Movie Reviews
Zach Braff, who you may have seen starring on the television show “Scrubs”, is making a lasting and impressionable filmmaking debut here; one that I’m having a hard time comprehending Braff making for unknown reasons. He wrote, directed, and starred in this, a very intense, sophisticated, and emotionally challenging film.
Braff’s character is Andrew “Large” Largeman. He’s living in L.A. trying to become an actor, and receives a phone call from his father informing him of his mother’s death. He flies home for the funeral, and while there, reunites with some old friends as well as his father. He goes to a few parties, lazes around mostly. It’s a dull “vacation” until one day, on his father’s advice, he visits a doctor and complains of sharp, split-second headaches that are recur often. In the waiting room, Sam (Natalie Portman) makes herself acquainted with him. This unlikely meeting turns into something quite different from what either of them thought it was.
Now, before I go too much farther, let me explain that Andrew has been on some form of medicine for reasons I’ll let you find out. He says that his life has been numb up until now, when he’s finally breaking from the medicines. Inner conflicts lead him to tentative steps toward reconciliation with his father, played by Ian Holm in a performance of rare silent power. The scenes with Andrew and his father are the most heartbreaking.
As Andrew and Sam become more of an item, he introduces her to his friends, and she introduces him to her family – a daring act for both of them. Daring, because Sam’s family is quite diverse, and because Large’s friends aren’t the most decent. Neither really sees this as a problem. Andrew states that his family is much more screwed up than hers, and Sam yearns to meet new people. Out of all this debris of dysfunction and inner angst, Andrew and Sam share very intimate conversations that turn them into the best of friends. What I liked is that it was nothing sexual, but very real – very universal.
Braff’s dialogue and direction is smart and funny, and at times very touching. The relationship between Sam and Andrew is nothing complicated to a viewer, only to the persons involved. Thus, Andrew and Sam have one large struggle to overcome, and when they do overcome it, the moment is very delicate and even more memorable. This film is about something much deeper than it wants to admit – which is what great art is.
The end of the film is quietly triumphant; a smile-producing conclusion that makes you happy to be able to witness. That moment is so sweet and so delicate, that I dare not ruin it. Just know that it is one of the best scenes I’ve watched all year. ****