Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Release Date: March 19, 2004
MPAA Rating: R for language, some drug use and sexual content
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Victor Rasuk, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood

Plot:
This is the story of a guy, Joel (Carrey), who discovers that his long-time girlfriend, Clementine (Winslet), has undergone a psychiatrist's (Wilkinson) experimental procedure in which all of her memory of Joel is removed, after the couple has tried for years to get their relationship working fluidly. Frustrated by the idea of still being in love with a woman who doesn't remember their time together, Joel agrees to undergo the procedure as well, to erase his memories of Clementine. The film, which takes place mostly within Joel's mind, follows his memories of Clementine backwards in time as each recent memory is replaced, and the procedure then goes on to the previous one, which is likewise seen, and then erased. Once the process starts, however, Joel realizes he doesn't really want to forget Clementine, so he starts smuggling her away into parts of his memory where she doesn't belong... which alters other things about his memories as well.

Review:
Most fans of Charlie Kaufman knows he doesn't write your everyday script. He brings an interesting and original concept on screen every chance he gets. With Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, he hasn't changed one bit in his style, actually it has only gotten better over the years.

With this script Kaufman has assured himself even a higher position in the film industry than he was before. That indeed is saying a lot, but he deserves every bit of it. Its a very odd story that not only works, but works to an extreme high point. The script is solid all throughout and involves many interesting characters.

The film stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as the lead actors. Each of them develop a relationship with one another, but it ends up not working out. They seem to not want to be involved with one another and Kate Winslet's character Clementine hears about an odd company that works on brains and can delete the memories you never want to remember again.

Lacuna Inc. is the famous corporation that can do this amazing technology that I can see happening in reality within a few hundred years without a doubt. Well, Clementine has it done and Joel, Carrey's character has it done as well. The film itself is taking place throughout Carrey's memories involving Clementine.

Jim Carrey is an extraordinary actor and in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind he delivers one of his best performances. He played his character to perfection and Kate Winslet also had her share of an outstanding performance. The film makes you love both of their characters because they are so different then your everyday person. Quite odd, lonely and bored are three words to describe them partially.

Along with Carrey and Winslet, the supporting cast include Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood. They all were good in their roles and had interesting situations that involved the story and outcome of the film. Thankfully we get to witness more of the lead actors then the supporting, but they had their equal share of screentime and while they didn't shine, they did their jobs, acting wise.

What makes this film so involving and entertaining is not only the great performances and Kaufman's brilliant script, it is also Michael Gondry's direction. This man gave it his all because the visuals in this film are stunning and completely different in a beautifully good way. There is always something new as the film is playing and that only draws the audiences attention more.

I'm also going to go ahead and say that this might just be Carrey's best performance. With The Truman Show he assured us that he can act in drama films. With Man On The Moon Jim Carrey showed the audience that he can portray another person as almost equal in personality. With Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Jim Carrey has shown that he can play a character and make it his own.

This can also be Carrey's best film to date. A lot of fans like him for his comedy roles and others like him for his drama roles. What makes Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind possibly so compelling is the fact that it combined Carrey's strengths, both drama and comedy. Its both a comedy and a drama and to add to that features an amazing script and direction.

Gondry nails the direction and its superb in all sense of the word. The film moves extremely quickly and it never disappoints with ingenious situations and ideas. If I could name some of the greatest scenes in the film, my review would be extremely long and it would probably never come to an end. The bad scenes of this film would be a completely blank page.

From beginning to end Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is a rollercoaster ride. You simply don't know where its going to take you next and that's the beauty of it. You rely on the cast and crew that made this project happen to deliver the intensity. This film is full of love and in the end it touches your heart like no film will this year. You have to love great filmmaking and there was plenty of it in this film.

For some reason Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind reminds me a lot of last year's Lost in Translation. They are not alike at all, but deal with the same concept of a relationship. Either way, both films are amazingly crafted. It comes as odd to me that in the past two years, some of the best romance films have been released. This is because they are taking the idea of romance and changing the mission the couple are after.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is bound to be one of the best films of the year. There are even meanings to be found and lessons to be learned with the film. Its basically everything you want in a film. Its a drama with a spice of comedy, its touching, its moving, its entertaining and as the film rolls along it only gets smarter. If there is one memory I'd like to keep then its the memory of witnessing this film.