January 21, 2005 -- This top-notch bittersweet romantic comedy is about Andrew Largeman (played by writer-director Zach Braff of the “Scrubs” TV show), who returns home for his mother's funeral after many years in a drug-induced state of numbness. This is a terrific debut film by Braff, reminiscent of the classic movie, “The Graduate.” It is one of this year's best films.

Andrew kicks the drugs and begins to feel emotions for the first time in years. He meets a young girl, Sam (Natalie Portman of “Closer”), and the two embark on a strange voyage of discovery with some of his old friends. Andrew finds some of his friends at the graveyard (one of them, Mark, a gravedigger who seems to have a lot of friends in low places, is played by Peter Sarsgaard of “Kinsey”). Another he finds on the street when he is pulled over by a cop who turns out to be a former stoner friend of his. In another scene, a man comes walking into a living room wearing a suit of armor. These chance meetings are both funny and poignant.

Andrew confronts old demons, too. Tragic memories of his mother, along with his domineering father, Gideon (Ian Holm of “The Aviator”) bring back a lot of sad childhood memories. Despite the fact that much of the story revolves around his mother's sad life and sad death, the story is surprisingly upbeat. It also takes some unexpected twists and turns. The structure of the story is unusual. At first glance, it seems haphazard, but that is what makes it seem real in the final analysis.

This film showcases another excellent performance by Natalie Portman, a great comic bookend to her great dramatic performance in “Closer.” Sarsgaard, an actor who seems to pick one great project after another, gives another superb supporting performance in this film. All the characters in this film, even the minor ones, have some depth to them, and they are not standard movie characters, either. The film also reveals Zach Braff as a major talent. He is the breakthrough talent of 2004.

The film has a distinct look to it, thanks to excellent photography by Lawrence Sher (“Legally Blonde”). The opening shots of the main character in his sterile, lifeless L.A. apartment have the look of a laboratory in harsh light. Later, some scenes are shot so they appear softer and warmer in certain friendly home settings. This may be the only film where inspiration comes from a large hole in the ground. The musical score by Nick Drake and the lively soundtrack adds a lot to the vitality of the film. The soundtrack includes Paul Simon's haunting song, “The Only Living Boy in New York.” This film rates an A.

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Copyright © 2005 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
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