New Jersey’s movie is GARDEN STATE!
Ok, for the record New Jersey’s movie according to the list is “Clerks”.
Don’t get me wrong I love Clerks it is probably Kevin Smith’s best movie and if you have not seen it I highly recommend you check it out. But I ’ve seen it and I feel that Garden State is over all a much better movie and I can’t think of one better to represent New Jersey and well it’s my blog so I’ll watch what I want. I tell you what I’ll drop a little blurb in here about Clerks just for the fun of it and then we’ll all be happy.
Dante Hicks is a clerk at a local convenience store in New Jersey. On one particular Saturday morning, he gets called in on his day off. Once there, he must deal with multiple problems. The shutters outside won’t open. His ex-girlfriend, whom he is still in love with, is getting married. His girlfriend, who bugs him about starting college, has revealed certain, uh…stuff about her past. His boss hasn’t come in to take his place. He has a hockey game at 2 o’clock. Another ex has died, and today’s the last day he can go to her wake. He must deal with customers that aren’t so intelligent. His friend, Randal, a clerk at the video store next door, is even less dedicated to his job than Dante, and is always bothering Dante’s customers. And the biggest problem of them all: HE’S NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TODAY!!
Ok so now Clerks is covered we can get back to Garden State, here’s a blurb about the movie:
Andrew Largeman 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 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, 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. Her warmth and fearlessness give Large the courage to open his heart to the joy and pain of the infinite abyss that is life.
I love this movie! It’s right up there on my list as one of the best movies ever. The casting for this movie is excellent right down to special appearances by Method Man and Jean Smart. Here’s the cast:
| Natalie Portman | Sam |
| Zach Braff | Andrew Largeman |
| Ian Holm | Gideon Largeman |
| Peter Sarsgaard | Mark |
| Jean Smart | Carol |
| Method Man | Diego |
| Ron Liebman | Dr Cohen |
| Ann Dowd | Olivia |
| Denis O’Hare | Albert |
| Michael Weston | Kenny |
| Jim Parsons | Tim |
| Jackie Hoffman | Aunt Sylvia Largeman |
The soundtrack for the movie is great. My favorite is Frou Frou.
Here’s the thing Garden State is movie you wont see coming it’s funny, it’s smart and at the end of the day it’s a love story and it speaks to my heart.
Just added Garden State to the old netflix queue. I’m a bit surprised I haven’t seen it. Static Lullaby does a nice cover of Frou Frou’s Let Go, you should check it out.