ETERNAL SUNSHINE
OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kristen Dunst, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo...
Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kaufman
Review Date: 03/25/04
Written By: Suj
Rating: 10/10
THE PLOT:
This is the story of a guy named Joel who discovers that his long-time girlfriend, Clementine has undergone a psychiatrist's experimental procedure in which all of her memory of Joel is removed, after the couple has tried for years to get their relationship working fluidly. Frustrated by the idea of still being in love with a woman who doesn't remember their time together, Joel agrees to undergo the procedure as well, to erase his memories of Clementine. The film, which takes place mostly within Joel's mind, follows his memories of Clementine backwards in time as each recent memory is replaced, and the procedure then goes on to the previous one, which is likewise seen, and then erased. Once the process starts, however, Joel realizes he doesn't really want to forget Clementine, so he starts smuggling her away into parts of his memory where she doesn't belong which alters other things about his memories as well...
THE REVIEW:
When you go into this film don't expect to see your typical romantic comedy that we’ve all been a costumed to. You won't be seeing Jim Carrey all funny-faced and talking about his women troubles with his one-liner sidekick and you won't be seeing Kate Winslet using sperm has hair gel. Instead you'll have a movie that focuses on the characters and its story rather then the comedic situations they get into.
The film begins with Joel Barish (Carrey) recalling his life, his failing relationship with girlfriend Naomi and his daily thoughts, all of which are said through the enjoyable facet of voice over as we watch Joel heading off to work. While he waits for a train he suddenly develops an impulse to catch another, a train heading to Montauk. Its seems he was drawn to this destination for some reason, maybe it’s the same reason Clementine Kruczynsk (Winslet) is there. They meet while on a train back to the city and its clear to see that both have an unexplained connection. From there we hit the opening credits and ready ourselves for an dazzling story which will have an explanation for that exuding connection between Joel and Clem.
This movie is absolutely brilliant beyond words. Charlie Kaufman is indeed a twisted, unique, extraordinary writer and no one in Hollywood can write like this cat. All of the movies that have the prestige "Written By" credit above his name have shown his talent of creating concepts that no other person can conceive through extremely well-written scripts that are filled with unexpected laughs and unexpected emotion. "Eternal Sunshine..." is the best of them all.
Now the director Michel Gondry whom is most know for his music videos (White Stripes, RadioHead, and Beck among others) has taken this story and truly envisioned it to the max. With the help of Cinematographer Ellen Kuras, Gondry manipulates the screen with gorgeous effects especially a sequence involving a kitchen where Carrey relives a childhood memory. He also pushes his actors to thrive for their peek and it shows.
Jim Carrey is at his best, forget the funny faces that he's made his career with its this role his acting talents truly shine. He plays Joel with a sense of hindered emotion controlled by the sadness that grows within until he realizes that love is what keeps him going. Kate Winslet is indeed a great actress and electrifies as the happy-go-lucky-multi-coloured starlet with heartfelt vulnerability. Elijah Wood steps away from deeps of Mount Doom and plays a doctors assistant dealing with thoughts of leading another man's life to unexpected laughs. The lovely Kirsten Dunst is a secretary whom tingles an aura of shaken dignity to her characters betrayed trust into Tom Wilkinson dark gloominess of Doctor Mierzwiak. And you can’t forget the great Mark Ruffalo as the doctors technician where he once again finds a dramatic subtlety in the nooks of comedy.
The focus of the movie is in the on-goings of Joel's head. And it's here that Kaufman and Gondry thrive their most imaginative and thoughtful conundrums. As Joel fights to hold on to the memories of his love, Kaufman and Gondry also fight but with the concept of memory itself and how a single moment can take over our lives. While looking back, this movie clearly demonstrates the strength of a script and how a story is more important then the calamities of a films surroundings.
Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kaufman
Review Date: 03/25/04
Written By: Suj
Rating: 10/10
THE PLOT:
This is the story of a guy named Joel who discovers that his long-time girlfriend, Clementine has undergone a psychiatrist's experimental procedure in which all of her memory of Joel is removed, after the couple has tried for years to get their relationship working fluidly. Frustrated by the idea of still being in love with a woman who doesn't remember their time together, Joel agrees to undergo the procedure as well, to erase his memories of Clementine. The film, which takes place mostly within Joel's mind, follows his memories of Clementine backwards in time as each recent memory is replaced, and the procedure then goes on to the previous one, which is likewise seen, and then erased. Once the process starts, however, Joel realizes he doesn't really want to forget Clementine, so he starts smuggling her away into parts of his memory where she doesn't belong which alters other things about his memories as well...
THE REVIEW:
When you go into this film don't expect to see your typical romantic comedy that we’ve all been a costumed to. You won't be seeing Jim Carrey all funny-faced and talking about his women troubles with his one-liner sidekick and you won't be seeing Kate Winslet using sperm has hair gel. Instead you'll have a movie that focuses on the characters and its story rather then the comedic situations they get into.
The film begins with Joel Barish (Carrey) recalling his life, his failing relationship with girlfriend Naomi and his daily thoughts, all of which are said through the enjoyable facet of voice over as we watch Joel heading off to work. While he waits for a train he suddenly develops an impulse to catch another, a train heading to Montauk. Its seems he was drawn to this destination for some reason, maybe it’s the same reason Clementine Kruczynsk (Winslet) is there. They meet while on a train back to the city and its clear to see that both have an unexplained connection. From there we hit the opening credits and ready ourselves for an dazzling story which will have an explanation for that exuding connection between Joel and Clem.
This movie is absolutely brilliant beyond words. Charlie Kaufman is indeed a twisted, unique, extraordinary writer and no one in Hollywood can write like this cat. All of the movies that have the prestige "Written By" credit above his name have shown his talent of creating concepts that no other person can conceive through extremely well-written scripts that are filled with unexpected laughs and unexpected emotion. "Eternal Sunshine..." is the best of them all.
Now the director Michel Gondry whom is most know for his music videos (White Stripes, RadioHead, and Beck among others) has taken this story and truly envisioned it to the max. With the help of Cinematographer Ellen Kuras, Gondry manipulates the screen with gorgeous effects especially a sequence involving a kitchen where Carrey relives a childhood memory. He also pushes his actors to thrive for their peek and it shows.
Jim Carrey is at his best, forget the funny faces that he's made his career with its this role his acting talents truly shine. He plays Joel with a sense of hindered emotion controlled by the sadness that grows within until he realizes that love is what keeps him going. Kate Winslet is indeed a great actress and electrifies as the happy-go-lucky-multi-coloured starlet with heartfelt vulnerability. Elijah Wood steps away from deeps of Mount Doom and plays a doctors assistant dealing with thoughts of leading another man's life to unexpected laughs. The lovely Kirsten Dunst is a secretary whom tingles an aura of shaken dignity to her characters betrayed trust into Tom Wilkinson dark gloominess of Doctor Mierzwiak. And you can’t forget the great Mark Ruffalo as the doctors technician where he once again finds a dramatic subtlety in the nooks of comedy.
The focus of the movie is in the on-goings of Joel's head. And it's here that Kaufman and Gondry thrive their most imaginative and thoughtful conundrums. As Joel fights to hold on to the memories of his love, Kaufman and Gondry also fight but with the concept of memory itself and how a single moment can take over our lives. While looking back, this movie clearly demonstrates the strength of a script and how a story is more important then the calamities of a films surroundings.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home