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Garden State is a 2004 American romantic comedy-drama film, directed by and starring Zach Braff. The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard and Natalie Portman. The movie is about Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), a struggling actor living in Los Angeles who returns home to New Jersey for his mother's funeral, after nearly a decade of being estranged from his family and hometown.

As he returns to his old town, Andrew begins to feel the weight of the past bearing down on him, including the legacy of his unfulfilled acting dreams, the guilt he feels for his mother's death, and his strained relationship with his father, a psychiatrist. However, he also begins to discover new and unexpected things about himself and the people he meets along the way, including a quirky young woman named Sam (Natalie Portman) who has her own issues but appears to be light and carefree.

Over the course of several days, Andrew, Sam and his old friend Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) explore the town and have a number of memorable experiences together. They attend a video shoot, take drugs, and even dig up Andrew's mother's missing jewelry, while also having philosophical conversations about life and love.

The film successfully explores the theme of the importance of coming to terms with one's past in order to move on and lead a fulfilled life. Through his interactions with Sam, Andrew is inspired to both reconnect with his estranged father and pursue a new, more authentic acting career. Along the way, he faces emotional upheavals and learns to accept his past and embrace the present.

One of the most memorable aspects of the film is its soundtrack, which features songs from various indie rock and alternative bands, including The Shins, Iron & Wine, and Simon & Garfunkel. The music not only adds to the mood of the film, but also helps to establish a sense of time and place.

The film also contains a number of memorable scenes and lines of dialogue, including Sam's infamous quote about expressing one's true emotions, that have become well known in pop culture over the years. Natalie Portman's portrayal of Sam has been particularly noted for its emotional depth, and her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Overall, Garden State is a touching and introspective film that explores themes of grief, self-discovery, and the importance of living in the present. Its combination of strong performances, memorable moments, and a great soundtrack have made it a favorite among many fans of indie cinema.

Garden State is a 2004 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 67.