Review of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) by Gregory G — 03 Apr 2014

This Charlie Kaufman scripted-Michel Gondry directed love story is unabashedly romantic. Kaufman's script has a sophisticated concept: to tell the evolution of a relationship in reverse. It begins at the end of the relationship with the anger and bitterness expressed and works backwards to the happier beginning when the couple meet.

They appear to be an odd couple. The withdrawn Joel (Jim Carrey) falls for the free spirited Clementine (Kate Winslet). After their relationship falls apart, Clementine goes to a company named Lacuna to have her memories of their time together erased.

Joel finds out and decides to get back at her by having the same procedure done to him. Formally innovative using inventive surreal set pieces, Gondry and cinematographer Ellen Kuras flashback to show Joel's memories of his time with Clementine as they disintegrate from his mind and he tries to cling to them.

The script is a clever puzzle as we try to decipher what is reality and what is memory. As a meditation on the effects of relationship fluctuations and the fragmentary nature of memory on romance, this poetic movie has an emotional directness that is piercingly poignant.

We see tender moments of intimacy and affection between Joel and Clementine but also the emotional pain caused by insults and resentments. Carrey and Winslet are superb - each giving the finest performance of their careers.

Carrey is restrained but never emasculated and he makes Joel's awkwardness very appealing. Winslet has a raw intensity and vulnerability that is touching. Clementine has various colors of hair to express the different shades of her personality.

She is spontaneous and a little flighty but painfully sensitive. There is a peerless scene with the lovers in bed; where Clementine expresses the loneliness of being a child, in feeling ugly and insignificant, so Joel caresses her, but the memory dissolves from his mind.

It's heartbreakingly beautiful. The raw emotions expressed in this film stay with you. Wonderful score by Jon Brion. Kaufman's script won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Minor quibble: the supporting parts tend to distract from the central story.

The tile is from the poem "Eloisa to Abelard" by Alexander Pope, which is referenced in the movie. With Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood.