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Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
2004
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND is an unconventional romance told in the abstract, inventive, and comedic storytelling style of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Like his scripts for ADAPTATION and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, this plot works off of a relatively complex idea that is easier explained through language of film than .. Read more
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst |
|---|---|
| Director | Michel Gondry |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
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Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND is an unconventional romance told in the abstract, inventive, and comedic storytelling style of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Like his scripts for ADAPTATION and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, this plot works off of a relatively complex idea that is easier explained through language of film than through words. In its most basic description, Joel (Jim Carrey) is undergoing a medical procedure to erase the memory of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet). However, while he is unconscious and the procedure is underway, he takes a journey through his mind, re-living moments with Clementine for fear of losing her forever. Using disjointed sound and action, foggy periods indicating Joel's confusion, and flashbacks to childhood where objects appear much bigger than they are to adult eyes, the cinematography communicates Joel's dilemma with visual hilarity. Only occasionally is the film laugh-out-loud funny; instead it is much more deeply and darkly amusing as the absurdity of the situation grows. ETERNAL SUNSHINE is nothing short of brilliant--a credit to director Michel Gondry (who has a topnotch reputation for his aesthetic music videos by artists such as Bjork). Carrey is wonderfully understated in the role of a simpleminded nice guy, and his signature goofiness is used only a handful of times. Winslet too is almost unrecognisable as she lights up the screen with her blue hair and orange sweatshirt, playing a lively free spirit and loose cannon. There are also strong supporting performances by Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo, along with an excellent score by Jon Brion and a soundtrack of songs by E.L.O. and The Polyphonic Spree. The film's conclusion promises to satisfy viewers; it offers a beautiful metaphor for the end of a love affair that brings perfect closure to this excellent film.
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams |
|---|---|
| Director | Michel Gondry |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 04 Oct 2004 Production year: 2004 |
| Format | DVD |
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Welcome to the twilight zone of Charlie Kaufman, the man behind Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. and the most innovative writer in Hollywood today. In this inventive collaboration with music video director Michel Gondry (the duo also made eccentric comedy Human Nature together), Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) meet by chance, and lose their minds over each other. Literally. After their affair ends, Clementine decides she can't live with the memories and goes to Lacuna Inc, a quirky, modest business that erases unwanted recollections. Joel then discovers what Clementine has done and decides to follow suit. During the lengthy pre-credit sequence, we see the couple meet on an empty, windswept beach, but, as this bizarre film progresses, we begin to realise this is perhaps not the case — experience and history having diverged. This latest outing from Kaufman's oddball imagination is wonderfully intriguing, often touching and typically convoluted — he plays with chronology as effectively as Tarantino. The only minor quibbles are Carrey's understated performance and a slightly lacklustre ending.
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Another film with a beginning, middle and end, though not necessarily in that order; indeed, the beginning is the end. It is too fussy in its writing and direction to maintain interest in its shifting narrative.
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Most helpful member's review
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188 out of 277 people found this review helpful
Peerless
This is an intensely moving film. It is uncommon to see a film that has a peerless script, groundbreaking directing and wonderfully gifted acting all in one film.
This is Kaufman’s best script to date, combining the ambitiousness of Adaptation and the mind mapping scenario of Being John Malkovich. It merges both, and transcends them, and is probably the finest script he will ever write. Structurally it is watertight, and multiple viewings confirm this. It is always easy for a film with multiple flashbacks to lose itself, or become confusing, but Eternal manages to find a balance not seen since Memento.
Gondry’s cinematic directorial debut is simply a pleasure to watch. He allows the actors a degree of freedom, which helps produce the remarkable acting that they provide. His unique camerawork suits the script perfectly, and one can only hope him and Kaufman can work together again.
Kate Winslet is shockingly good in this film, and Carey is not far behind; although once or twice he strays into his pre-Truman Show sort of role. The rest of the cast is equally strong, with Tom Wilkinson playing his role with a remarkably subtle charisma.
All of these ingredients together provide a highly unusual and rewarding viewing experience. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Different is not the word
AT LAST..... PROOF THAT JIM CARREY CAN ACT !!!
A film about life, love and relationships. From a different angle. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are great and really display some good acting. Totally against type for Carrey. Clever camera techniques and use of old style trickery.
Not the sort of film to watch if you have screaming kids to distract you but one to watch and concentrate on. Good story line with a couple of sub plots.
Just glad my relationship doesn't go like his but then again a bottle of beer is far cheaper than a shrink. It might just give us a small insight as to what a paranoid schizophrenic my be like
Try the film but be open minded about it, you won't regret it -
News and features
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Spotless mind casts new movie
- 11 Jan 2007
Visually and thematically innovative writer Charlie Kaufman has announced the casting for his next movie, which tells the story of an ambitious theatre director and the women in his life. Synecdoche, New York, is the latest project from Kaufman, who wrote cult hits such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich. And although he usually works in collaboration with directors such as Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry, Kaufman will this time take the helm of the movie, which is... Read more
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