Review of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) by Jason B — 23 Feb 2013

The greatest romance movie I've seen. An intelligent script blended with career breaking acting along with perfect camera work, this movie blends the memories of some one trying to erase them along with breaks of vague reality to create a dream like state, this movie is smart, and shows that Jim Carrey, who should have been nominated for an oscar, can do drama and perfect it.

Starting with the script, this script could have been a disaster, it could have been crazy, out there and nonsensical. However, this script was intelligent, grounded and genuinely emotional. The reason the script or screenplay or what ever you want to call it, was so great was because the environment, the dreams were so crazy, out there and nonsensical so the script provided the ground for all of the craziness, proving that this film isn't crazy at all and in fact simply a story of 2 people's love and how it will always last. But to be honest, Charlie Kaufman made the script and he is veteran writer including works like Adaptation and Being John Malkovich.

Onto the acting and might I say Jim Carrey did a superb job at it and he proved he can do drama and not just do it, but perfect it. He played a man with a subtle personality which is a complete change for him, and by playing a low key person, he allowed Kate Winslet to have the big personality and allowed her to garn an academy award nomination. But screw the academy, because Carrey deserved a nomination and if not that then he deserved a win because his performance was magnificent. As for Kate Winslet, I'm going to go all out and say she proved to be the most consistent and best actress of the first decade of the 21st century. I know big statement!! But you will understand me if you go to IMDB, go to her page and just scroll down and look at her roles, and you will understand. And this film is no exception, as she had to play a moody, eccentric and impulsive woman who changes her personality every day and she deserved the nomination and she probably would have won if she wasn't facing Hilary Swank who also did a phenomenal job in Million Dollar Baby, so tough year.

As for the camera work, which most people leave out because they focus of the actors, directors or writers, the camera work was extraordinary providing beautiful images of memories and creating a world of strangeness that doesn't follow reality, it was perfect and along with elegant and perfect visual effects, (Some of the best visual effects I have ever seen, because it provided an atmosphere and didn't take over the movie like some movies...Avatar) I would recommend any director of photography to see this movie, because this movie shows, how camera work has evolved and become so intricate and complex and can provide a narration or mood to a movie.

This movie was wonderful, and my only advice to people is sit through the first 20 minutes it might be confusing but it will all unravel and make sense, and you will be drawn in.