Screening Log

This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.


January 2005 activity

Total Log Entries: 58

Total Comments: 19


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Garden State / USA / 2004

Although I don’t understand why every I-need-to-find-myself twenty-something drama of late feels the need to incorporate ultra-quirky characters and super-dysfunctional families to make its point, I still found myself drawn into and enjoying Garden State, in large part due to the acting performances of Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. Portman in particular is irresistibly cute and loveable, offering a more grown-up version of the character she played in Beautiful Girls. A great soundtrack, including tracks from The Shins and Simon and Garfunkel, enhance this coming-of-age tale considerably.

by Thomas Scalzo | Source: Twentieth Century Fox DVD
24 Jan 2005 2:25 PM | Comments (2)


Comments / 2 total / Submit Comment

  1. Eva Michelle / 26 January 2005 / 4:30 PM

    What resonates here is the exploration of what home becomes after you’ve left it behind. This is what Andrew Largeman is looking for, and where he finds it is perhaps not surprising, but at the very least enjoyable to watch.

  2. CG / 27 January 2005 / 1:02 PM

    Phew… I thought I was the only one who noticed the connection between the characters of Marty (Beautiful Girls)and Sam (Garden State) that Portman has played. I actually found her much more compelling in this than in her nominated work. Though I wasn’t a fan of Braff’s acting, I was far more amused by Sarsgaard’s menacing stoner. Thomas is correct when he says the highlights are the acting and soundtrack, because I thought the script was, though well-intentioned, rather weak at times.

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