Stars: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson, Jane Adams

Director: Michel Gondry

Summary: Joel (played by Jim Carrey) is undergoing a medical procedure to erase the memory of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (played by Kate Winslet) whom he would rather forget. However, while he is unconscious and the procedure is underway, he takes a journey through his mind, reliving moments with Clementine for fear of losing her forever.

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND is an unconventional romance told in the abstract, inventive, and comedic storytelling style of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Like his scripts for ADAPTATION and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, this plot works off of a relatively complex idea that is easier explained through language of film than through words. In its most basic description, Joel (Jim Carrey) is undergoing a medical procedure to erase the memory of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet). However, while he is unconscious and the procedure is underway, he takes a journey through his mind, re-living moments with Clementine for fear of losing her forever. Using disjointed sound and action, foggy periods indicating Joel's confusion, and flashbacks to childhood where objects appear much bigger than they are to adult eyes, the cinematography communicates Joel's dilemma with visual hilarity. Only occasionally is the film laugh-out-loud funny; instead it is much more deeply and darkly amusing as the absurdity of the situation grows. ETERNAL SUNSHINE is nothing short of brilliant--a credit to director Michel Gondry (who has a topnotch reputation for his aesthetic music videos by artists such as Bjork). Carrey is wonderfully understated in the role of a simpleminded nice guy, and his signature goofiness is used only a handful of times. Winslet too is almost unrecognisable as she lights up the screen with her blue hair and orange sweatshirt, playing a lively free spirit and loose cannon. There are also strong supporting performances by Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo, along with an excellent score by Jon Brion and a soundtrack of songs by E.L.O. and The Polyphonic Spree. The film's conclusion promises to satisfy viewers; it offers a beautiful metaphor for the end of a love affair that brings perfect closure to this excellent film.

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Reviewed by: cooljimbop
Posted on July 20, 2005 11:46 AM

Like Charlie Kaufman's other films Eternal Sunshine is at first look bizarre, especially with the director of a fair few of Bjork's music videos. However, this film is simply beautiful. Both depressing and uplifting at the same time, you will laugh, cry and be deeply intrigued by the plot. With amazing effects and a superb performance from Jim Carey this film could be considered either sci-fi, romantic comedy or drama. It is all these.
The extras aren't too bad but nowhere as good as the special edition's.

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Screenwriters rarely develop a distinctive voice that can be recognized from movie to movie, but the ornate imagination of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) has made him a unique and much-needed cinematic presence. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a guy decides to have the memories of his ex-girlfriend erased after she's had him erased from her own memory--but midway through the procedure, he changes his mind and struggles to hang on to their experiences together. In other hands, the premise of memory-erasing would become a trashy science-fiction thriller; Kaufman, along with director Michel Gondry, spins this idea into a funny, sad, structurally complex, and simply enthralling love story that juggles morality, identity, and heartbreak with confident skill. The entire cast--Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, and more--give superb performances, carefully pitched so that cleverness never trumps feeling. A great movie. --Bret Fetzer

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary With Michel Gondry And Writer Charlie Kaufman, A Look Inside Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Feature, A Conversation With Jim Carrey And Michel Gondry, Lacuna Inc Advertisement, Deleted Scenes, The Polyphonic Spree Light And Day Music Vi
Year:	2004
Release Date:	October 4, 2004
Runtime:	103 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	M P 328 D
Keywords:	Comedy, Mind, General, Eternal, Romantic, Sunshine, Spotless
Genre:	Comedy