~ MOVIES ; NEXT STOP: 'LAST KISS' <D o o '" o M 0; .0 E ~ <D (f) ~ D C " (f) Zach Braff's new film helped director Tony Goldwyn grow up BY MICHAEL GILTZ A ctorTonyGoldwyn has only directed three movies, buht has happened every time: He catches the star on the rise.</p><p> In his 1999 gem "A Walk on the Moon," Goldwyn worked with Viggo Mortensen just as the actor was poised for super stardom in "The Lord of the Rings." In the little-seen 2001 "Someone Like You," Goldwyn cast Hugh Jack man as a romantic leading man when most others still thought he was just an "X-Men" hero with claws Now, in the comedy-drama "The Last Kiss," Goldwyn's got Zach Braff of TV's "Scrubs" and the film "Gar den State" (which Braff also directed) just as he's ready for bigger things. "Zach's just coming into his own as a performer," says Goldwyn. "In a way, this character is a whole new thing for him.</p><p> In 'Garden State,' good as he was in it, he was more reacting to all the people around him. "In this movie, Zach really drives the thing." A remake of a 2001 Italian film, "The Last Kiss" follows four young men in Madison, Wis., scared stiff about the onslaught of adult respon sibilities .</p><p> Izzy (Michael Weston) wants to escape on a road trip after being dumped by a girlfriend and tending to his ailing dad.</p><p> Kenny (Eric Christian Olsen) has a strict poli- cy of no-strings sex.</p><p> Chris (Casey Aft1eck), married with a new born baby, stays late at work rath, er than dealing with the over whelming needs of his young family.</p><p> And at the center is Michael (Braff), who's got a gorgeous -and pregnant -girlfriend (J acinda Barrett) who doesn't mind his fear of marriage .</p><p> And no wonder: her mother· (Blythe Danner) is about to revea I an extramarital affair and leave her dad (Tom WJ.i.kinson) . "There's a lot required of Zach as an actor -he has to be funny and emo tional and empathetic," says Goldwyn . "Somehow, he manages to maintain the audience's empathy through out the movie, even during the moments they hate him." Despite Goldwyn's knack for heat-seeking actors, directing is a midcareer switch for him.</p><p> He worked for many years as an actor, playing ev erything from a memorably evil yuppie in "Ghost" to a closeted TV star on "The L Word." He was even the voice of the title hero in Disney's 1999 animated film "Tarzan." And he has been behind-the-scenes on Tv, guiding episodes of "Grey's Anato my," the new drama "Kidnapped" and Showtime's "Dexter." And GoldW'jll of course has movies in his blood: His grandfa ther was Samuel Goldwyn -the G in MGM -and his father is producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr. " 'The Last Kiss' was a film that really interested me be cause it felt very reaJ." Goldwyn says. "When I read the script, I thought it was a chance to make a film that could be fun ny and entertaining, and honest about how hard it is to navigate relationships and commitmen t "And it involves the process of coping with crises, of all sorts.</p><p> What happens when life doesn't go the way you planned it." • CLINCHING IT Director Tony Goldwyn (above, on set) says with "The Last Kiss" (below), actor Zach Braff "comes into his own," while co-star Rachel Bilson "is so confident, it's like she's been acting for 20 years."
