Zach Braff Says Quentin Tarantino Joked ‘You Stole My F—ing Grammy!’ After ‘Garden State’ Beat ‘Kill Bill’ for Best Soundtrack: ‘Then He Gave Me a Big Hug’

As a movie critic who grew up idolizing Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg, I can only imagine the surreal experience Zach Braff went through when his indie film “Garden State” not only defied expectations at the box office but also won a Grammy Award over Tarantino’s “Kill Bill Vol. 2.”


In a recent interview with The Ringer, Zach Braff shared an amusing story about Quentin Tarantino. It seems that when Braff’s movie “Garden State” won the Grammy Award for best compilation soundtrack for visual media instead of Tarantino’s “Kill Bill Vol. 2”, Tarantino jokingly scolded Braff.

1) “I found myself competing against Quentin Tarantino, an encounter I never imagined would lead to my victory over him. Frankly, I didn’t expect to outshine him in any aspect,” Braff shared. “My father wanted to attend, and I said, ‘Dad, there’s no way I’ll win a Grammy. Tarantino is the one taking home the award, and your journey from New Jersey seems unnecessary.’ Little did I know that we would end up winning! It left me utterly amazed.”

Speaking about it, Braff recounted how Tarantino playfully remarked, “You swiped my Grammy, buddy!” with a broad grin and warm embrace. He was genuinely sweet and encouraging. I, being the film-school kid who would proudly display a ‘Reservoir Dogs’ poster on my wall, found him simply inspiring.

In 2004, Zach Braff’s film “Garden State,” which he directed, wrote the script for, and acted opposite Natalie Portman, became a sensation in the independent film scene, earning $35 million at the box office despite a production budget under $3 million. The movie’s popular soundtrack included hits from artists like The Shins, Coldplay, and Thievery Corporation.

“Braff expressed he never imagined winning a Grammy, stating this to The Ringer. He admitted he never thought such an outcome would arise from the film, but surprisingly, daily conversations often revolve around it, be it about the soundtrack or the movie itself. For many people, ‘Garden State’ served as a significant film during a crucial phase of their lives.”

In 2004, during the success of “Garden State,” Tarantino wasn’t the only notable filmmaker who praised Braff. Braff additionally disclosed receiving a letter of recognition from Steven Spielberg at that time.

“Braff mentioned that he has a framed letter from Spielberg on his wall. He shared that receiving this letter from one of his idols, expressing admiration for the film, was a dream come true. Essentially, it went something like, ‘As a representative of many others, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Hollywood,’ or words to that effect.”

Read the full “Garden State” soundtrack oral history on The Ringer’s website.

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2024-07-30 00:16