Watch Gardener of Eden

Gardener of Eden is a 2007 independent drama film directed by Kevin Connolly, who is better known for playing Eric Murphy in the hit HBO show, Entourage. The movie follows the life of Adam Harris, played by Lukas Haas, a young college dropout who lives a stagnant, unfulfilling life in his small New Jersey hometown. Despite being loved by his parents, Adam feels lost and unsure of his future. He spends most of his days smoking weed with his friends and working at his father's Greek diner. However, everything changes when Adam witnesses a brutal attack on a young woman while delivering a pizza. The incident shakes him to the core and reignites his sense of purpose.

Feeling empowered for the first time, Adam decides to take it upon himself to alleviate the town's problems, starting with the investigation of the assault case. His newfound activism draws the attention of a local journalist, played by Erika Christensen, who sees potential in Adam and offers him a job. With her guidance, Adam becomes a vigilante gardener, dedicating himself to cleaning up his community's neglected gardens, parks and abandoned properties.

However, Adam's actions attract the wrong crowd, and he finds himself caught up in a dangerous world of vigilantism and revenge. He starts to dabble in activities that he never thought himself capable of, and even starts a relationship that threatens to destroy his mission and himself.

The film deals with several themes, including responsibility, redemption, and the search for self-worth. It explores the idea of how one's sense of purpose and importance can be regained through community work and activism. At its core, Gardener of Eden is about the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a chaotic world and the sacrifices one must make to ensure a better future.

The film boasts an impressive cast, led by Lukas Haas, whose subdued, nuanced performance conveys Adam's many emotions, from his initial apathy to his newfound sense of purpose. In addition, Erika Christensen and Giovanni Ribisi deliver strong supporting performances, with the latter portraying the film's villain, a small-time drug dealer who befriends Adam.

Overall, Gardener of Eden is a thought-provoking and poignant film that examines the complexities of human nature and the struggle to find meaning in life. While the film deals with dark and heavy themes, it is also punctuated by moments of humor and lightheartedness. Director Kevin Connolly deftly balances these elements to create a film that resonates deeply with audiences.

Gardener of Eden is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.