I just finished rewatching Garden State, as well as the combined commentary by writer/director/star Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. It’s a great movie: Braff’s got a real gift for storytelling, and he and Portman hit just the right notes developing their characters’ relationship.
It’s also a film I’d love to recommend to a particular friend, except for the fact that the core event of the story is far too close for comfort to an experience in her own life. Perhaps it’s just a matter of introducing it properly beforehand so it’s not a shock, or maybe I’m worrying too much on her behalf; either way, I haven’t mentioned it so far, and given the time of year I’m not going to broach the subject for at least a couple of months.
