The Alphabet Project: G is for...

Garden State (2004)

Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. A moderately successful TV actor living in Los Angeles, "Large" hasn't been home to the Garden State in nine years. But even with 3,000 miles between them, he's been unable to escape his domineering father Gideon (Ian Holm)and the silencing effect he's had on his son from afar. Stunned to find himself in his hometown after such a long absence, Large finds old acquaintances around every corner living quite unique lives as gravediggers, fast food knights and the panderers of pyramid schemes. Meanwhile, at home, he does his best to avoid a long-simmering but inevitable confrontation with his father. By a twist of fate, Large meets Sam (Natalie Portman), a girl who is everything he isn't. A blast of color, hope and quirks, Sam becomes a sidekick who refuses to ride in his sidecar. Hilarity ensues as her warmth and fearlessness give Large the courage to open his heart to the joy and pain of the infinite abyss that is life.

Trivia: Natalie Portman was Braff's first choice for the role of Sam but he never thought he would get her. Zach Braff wrote the majority of the script while he was in college. Based partly on Braff's own childhood in New Jersey, as well as his days as a struggling actor in Los Angeles before the success of "Scrubs" (2001). When Braff sent the script to people, he would also send them a copy of the songs which would eventually be the soundtrack (which he handpicked). That is why on the actual soundtrack album, all of the songs are in the order that they appear in the movie. The tomb stones in the pet cemetery were made by the cast and crew, and feature their own deceased pets' names. The "helmet" that Sam (Natalie Portman) is wearing on the motorcycle is actually a Rugby scrum-cap. On the commentary track, Natalie Portman admits she had never handled a vinyl record before making this movie. She had to be taught how to start a vintage "record player" properly for the scene in her bedroom.

Wow, I am impressed. Zach Braff is more then a funny man on a funny show. I like how he moves Large through the movie. He starts out in a bleak featureless white bedroom and pretty much sleep walks through his mother's funeral and as he progresses through the film he comes more and more to life. He awakens with the help of his friends and a quirky girl who herself is full of life. I like the rainstorm in the middle of the film, it was a cleansing experience for the characters. There is also an undercurrent throughout the film with the characters wanting to do something unique to prove that they are one of a kind. This can be best seen in Sam. Natalie Portman continues to provide good solid characters. Sam is a fun, quirky, slightly manic, colorful young woman who isn't afraid to laugh at herself but also looks forward to a good cry. So anyway, to paraphrase the movie, "You gotta see this one movie, it'll change your life I swear." Well, maybe not quite that far, but it is a really really good movie. Thanks Kim.

Okay, Kim was able to guess correctly what movie I was going to watch so as a prize, she will get to pick two movies for me to watch and review here at a later date. Here were the other guesses:

Austin Powers in Goldmember - Upon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly-named villain Goldmember - who is working with Dr. Evil.

Goldfinger - Investigating a gold magnate's gold smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Gate - A whodunnit on a sheepstation.

Gregory's Girl - Gregory is a normal teen who is infatuated with a classmate. He must work to win her affection.

Gettysburg - In 1863, the Northern and Southern forces fight at Gettysburg in the decisive battle of the American Civil War.

Get Shorty - A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.

Gorillas In The Mist: The story of Dian Fossey - A scientist comes to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fights to protect them.

The Green Mile - The story about the lives of guards on death row leading up to the execution of a wrongly accused man who has the power of faith healing.

Grosse Point Blank - Martin Blank is a professional assassin. He is sent on a mission to a small Detroit suburb, Grosse Pointe, and, by coincidence, his ten-year high school reunion party is taking place there at the same time.

Okay, next up is "H", I am going to start giving very cryptic clues if I can find them to see if I can help y'all narrow it down a bit. So here is your clue: One of the characters may be an ephebophile and the title of the film comes from internet slang.