Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind has become somewhat of a cult/independent classic. Starring Kate Winslet and a stubbly Jim Carey, as a couple who undergo a procedure to have each other wiped from their memories, but as the process of loss takes its toll the two begin that the learn what they had before. If Eternal Sunshine was a painting it would be comparable to the work of Picasso. Both share what is a bright layout, harnessing colour and emotion to convey a message. And like Picasso the film harnesses disjointed in a way that is not alienating, but only contributes to the overall concept of the movie. In simple terms Michel Gondry has directed a charming film, that is as full of heart as it is wonderful visuals. The film begins with slow talking narration, from a seemingly grouchy, slow talking Patrick (Jim Carey). A role challenging every belief of the normally eccentric comedian. From his performance alone the audience can expect they have stepped into a abstract picture, as Carey is tame and timid, looking like all his energy has ran out of him is a pitiful sigh. This is no negative at all, for me this is one of Carey's finest performances, as his character is the complete opposite of Clementine (Kate Winslet). Winselt throws away her Titanic sophistication for her role, energised with quirkiness and died blue her she is truly an actress succeeding at being different. It is therefore no surprise that when the two meet on a train journey she soon overpowers Carey's Patrick, but the two work well bouncing ideas and swiftly falling for each other.
What ensues after in this cleverly knit together non liner plot, is truly a trip down the rabbit hole of the sub-conscience and relationships in general. I will refrain from spoilers, as I do always so what I shall give is just an overall sense of the picture.
Essentially the picture jump cuts to Carey crying, and then a few scenes later we are shown how he wants to erase Winslet from his mind. This procedure now available at a clinic run by Tom Wilkinson's character with Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood carrying out the procedure. The two are excellent at providing comic relief, and Ruffalo's hair is just the wildest its ever been.
During the operation, which utilises what can only be a colander attached by wires to a typewriter, we delve into the recesses of Patrick's memories with Clemantine. These are the scenes that truly capture what Eternal Sunshine is all about. The abstract direction as well as tremendous subtle effects, such as removing the labels of books, all reveal Patrick's slowly fading memories, in such an artistic way that we are left captivated by visual story telling. Gondry smartly, utilises various techniques to make Patrick's mind seem alive and slowly fading away. A mediocre director, would just use a simple fade to white to show a transition to a new memory, however, Gondry allows the setting surrounding the actors to dissolve making the picture seem more dimensional a complex.
I wish I could talk more about the film as a whole, but sadly I feel I can't continue without spoiling the picture for you guys. I really do urge you to watch this film. It is a master-class of unorthodox cinema and the ending is not only clever, but inspiring on a whole. Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless mind is the most sophisticated date movie I know, and really does entice any couples who are in tricky situations to try harder to forget the bad, but never, ever, forget the good.
My Rating: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDB: 8.4/10
Did You Know: The scene where Joel and Clementine watch the circus go through the streets was made up on the spot, as the film crew and cast happened to be working nearby and Michel Gondry decided it could work well in the film. The part where Clementine disappears suddenly is one of Gondry's favourite moments of the film, as Jim Carrey didn't know Kate Winslet was going to disappear and Gondry likes it because Carrey's face appears so saddened. When the sound blanks out in the final film, Carrey is actually saying "Kate?"
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