Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Directed by:
Michel GondryScreenplay:
Charlie KaufmanCinematography:
Ellen KurasComposer:
Jon BrionCast:
Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Ryan Whitney, Debbon Ayer, Thomas Jay Ryan, Jane Adams, Paulie Litt (more)VOD (5)
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Jim Carrey stars as Joel, a shy oddball who is stunned to discover that his longterm girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet), with whom he has recently split up, has undergone an experimental psychiatric treatment to have her memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Still in love with her, and frustrated at the thought that she has no memory of their times together, he elects to undergo the procedure himself, and contacts the company who have pioneered it. The team, led by Dr Howard Mierzwaik (Tom Wilkinson), hook Joel up their computer and begin the process. The film, the majority of which takes place inside Joel's mind, then follows each of his memories of Clementine back in time as the most recent ones are systematically erased. But Joel's subconscious struggles to hold on to the memories as they slip away, and one of the nurses, Mary (Kirsten Dunst), who has undergone the treatment herself, sees his distress and eventually decides to send Joel and Clementine their files so that they know what they have lost. (Momentum Pictures)
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Reviews (10)
To be honest, I only heard about this Jim Carrey film a few years ago; it had somehow been off my radar all these years. It is definitely an unconventional viewing experience in every sense. I liked how they grafted sci-fi onto the romantic genre; you don't see that every day. The central idea of a letter containing information that someone has just erased you from their memory is initially quite crazy, but as time goes on, I started to enjoy the whole concept more and more. Of course, the cast contributes to this, with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet... could the creators wish for anyone better for the lead roles? I also appreciated the various little details (like Clementine's hair color changing according to her mood). I don't feel ready to give it a higher rating yet, but I wouldn't rule out leaning towards that after a second viewing in the future (a lot of people had that experience). For me, it's 8/10.
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In a word, a smart film, bolstered by a script from arguably the best and most creative contemporary Hollywood screenwriter, Andy Kaufman, and featuring clever, imaginative direction and an excellent cast. This film is reminiscent of the best Czechoslovak parodies and fantastic films of the 1970s. Playful, intelligent filmmaking. Overall impression: 85%.
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That was quite a ride... A memory here and there, with the occasional real thing thrown in, and then it would seem impossible to understand. And look! I understood the incomprehensible and misunderstood the comprehensible - a crazy combination, I know, like the speed of Clementine's hair color change. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an amazing journey into the deepest recesses of a lover's soul, where everything seems so real, but let's not be fooled. The great Jim Carrey and the absolutely amazing Kate Winslet may make a completely mismatched pair (which may be just me), but the ways of love are devious. This is definitely one of the most intricate films of the 21st century, and it gave me everything on offer - sweet romance, bitter drama and unadulterated sci-fi ... ...and actually feel great about something so special.
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The most unusual romantic movie I have seen. Cleverly and intelligently directed, but at times quite confusing and not entirely likeable (as a romance). From a romantic comedy, I do expect a bit more personal approach and the opportunity to go deeper, which is not the case here due to the frantic pace and complexity of the script. The film is rather cold, detached, and in a way, not very viewer-friendly. But the twist and the overall construction of the story are very original. For fans of traditionally styled, conservative romances, it will certainly not get top marks and will not be the film of the year by any means.
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An incredible sci-fi romance distinguished by excellent performances, but above all by a brilliant screenplay written by Charlie Kaufman. Michel Gondry was also involved, after all. Something unique was created that will either charm you or leave you viewing it as odd, especially if you struggle to understand the film. It's not easy, but give it a try and watch it. You won't experience something like this easily again.
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