In one of my favorite films, Garden State, the camera angles throughout the ending scene not only help to tell the story, but also affect the way the story is viewed. As the film comes to a close, the two main characters are faced with a last decision: Andrew (Zach Braff) must decide whether he will go back to his home and figure out his life or stay in New Jersey to be with Sam (Natalie Portman).
The scene opens with a long shot in an airport. Andrew and Sam walk past the camera at a distance and are seen only as silhouettes. This shot sets up the location and also helps the viewer to be aware of the impending difficulties that the two characters will soon face. The camera cuts to Portman and Braff sitting on a set of stairs, still seen from a distance. As the two begin to talk about the future of their relationship, the viewer is shown a medium shot, which helps to involve us in the conversation. As the conversation gets more emotional, the camera gradually moves in to present back and forth close ups of the two characters. As the scene prepares to end, the camera moves out to a medium shot of the two saying last goodbyes and then further moves out to a long shot. This cycle helped to create the same feeling of leaving that the characters were experiencing.
A few shots later, Braff is seen at a medium close up on the plane. This shot gives idea that something is changing and that the character is contemplating his decision. A quick cut to a long shot of Portman crying then reveals Braff returning. As the scene closes the camera pulls further and further out putting a close to the film.
Overall, the film shots used in Garden State helped to make the scene more relatable and emotional to the viewer. Had the same scene been shot using different angles, the effectiveness of the closing scene would have been much less and the ending of the film may not have seemed as satisfying to the viewer.
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