It’s been a hot minute, Mr. Braff, but we’re thankful that you have returned. Well, he hadn’t gone very far, of course, but A Good Person feels like a return of sorts, a re-emergence of a filmmaker who has struggled to get his films off the ground for a cavalcade of reasons. 2004’s Garden State, his debut feature which wowed audiences both at Sundance and then in cinemas, earning him a Grammy win for its sensational soundtrack. Then, not much.

Not for the want of trying, mind you, with countless directorial opportunities falling, followed by his eventual exploration and success with Kickstarter and the film born from it, 2014’s Wish I Was Here, which had a mixed reception, and taking on a studio comedy with Going In Style in 2017. More recently, he’s found a home directing episodes of series such as Ted Lasso and Shrinking but, thankfully, he has made a triumphant, if hard-hitting, return.

Allison (Florence Pugh) is happy in life: with a job that she loves, supportive friends, and a new fiance, Nathan (Chinaza Uche) who she is planning her wedding. Seemingly on the path she always wanted to walk, her world is turned upside down when en route to a wedding dress fitting, she is involved in a tragic car accident. Struck down by grief, sadness, and despair, Allison struggles to get through her day-to-day until a happenstance reunion with her would-be father-in-law (Morgan Freeman) and his teenage granddaughter, the impetuous Ryan (Celeste O’Connor) pushes her to start finding her way out of her black hole.

SEE MORE: Check out our interview with writer/director Zach Braff

For those who were fans of the aforementioned Garden State and its amazing music (as well as…whisper it… probably Natalie Portman’s finest performance), A Good Person will be right up your street. It’s a spiritual sequel of sorts in terms of its look and themes to both his previous films: if State was about dealing with death during adolescence and Wish I Was Here was about crying to cope with it in your midlife, this is about coming with death and its impact on a wider scale, and how never-ending the pain can be in putting it all back together again.

Beginning with tragedy and ending with hope, Braff shows a unique ability to not only present such things with pathos and understanding but to find humour in all things, even death and its inexplicable impact. Fuelled once again by another brilliant soundtrack of songs that echo the moments he captures so beautifully and enriches them so subtly; his knack for telling these stories with such aplomb is a testament to his directorial talents.

Yes, with such a heavy subject and deep-rooted sadness, the film does feel a little overcooked at times and a touch too saccharine in its slightly overlong runtime but it treads the difficult line with balance and poise that such small infractions can be forgiven, especially when performed by such a rich cast.

SEE MORE: Check out our premiere interviews with Florence Pugh and Zach Braff

Pugh will get the plaudits, as ever, for another sensational turn that showcases even more depth and grace in her ever-expanding array of incredible talents, but it’s Morgan Freeman who is the true treasure here in easily the accomplished legend’s finest performance for a decade. He’s always good, of course, but for the first time since 2009’s Invictus, he has that true presence back, relishing in Braff’s writing and direction and producing a turn of class, levity, and humility amid anger and grief.

For some, A Good Person might be a little too heavy-handed in its depictions of grief, family, addiction, and hopelessness, its few foibles and slightly over-zealous runtime aside, Braff, Pugh, Freeman and Co. have crafted a raw, emotional yet touching and melancholy film that soars on its performances, elevating it into the echelons of early 2023’s brightest sparks.