Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (DVD) - Eddy T

I never thought I'd hail the greatness of a Jim Carrey movie, but here it is - the first great Jim Carrey movie. (For the comedic Carrey, I always get stitches from 'Liar Liar'.) Carrey plays a withdrawn man Joel whose relationship with an exuberant and kooky Clementine (Kate Winslet, one of the finest actresses of her generation, in a beautifully-judged performance) is in a downward spiral. They've become a boring couple. Then without warning Clementine completely erases her memory of him. Utterly devastated, Joel decides to do the same to her. Much of the movie then follows Joel's memories of Clementine, in reverse chronological order, as they are erased. It isn't long before the unconscious Joel realises that there are many beautiful memories that he wants to keep, even if the relationship has subsequently soured, and he starts to fight the erasure procedure...
This is a tour de force of film-making, one of my favourites of 2004, or any year for that matter. It has elements of science fiction, and is also one of the most touching and odd love stories yet told. This should hold no surprise for admirers of Charlie Kaufman, the writer also responsible for oddball gems such as 'Being John Malkovich' and 'Adaptation'. Those earlier efforts were virtuoso exercises of narrative trickery which left me a bit cold for all their brilliance. 'Eternal Sunshine' is also blessed with the usual Kaufman narrative surprises, and thought-provoking ideas about memory and identity. Above all, it has heart, and that is what seals its greatness. (There is even a little detour into childhood memories which is very poignant.) In this, Kaufman is ably aided and abetted by director Michel Gondry and composer Jon Brion. Gondry uses effects sparingly and they are startlingly effective. The cinematography is unobtrusive and evokes memories eloquently. Jon Brion turns in another weirdly wonderful soundtrack after 'Punch Drunk Love'.
Finally, 'Eternal Sunshine' quotes Alexander Pope and unabashedly claims that love is transcendental. How romantic is that?!
Rating: 9.5/10