FLAWED BUT AMBITIOUS, A MUST-SEE JOURNEY

By: B -- (5/24/04)

Who am I to critique a Charlie Kaufmann movie? Kaufmann has penned two of the more imaginative stories in recent history, Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. I will preface this review of his new movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, by admitting I am nowhere near qualified for this. Nor is anyone else, for that matter.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, directed by Michael Gondry, is a movie about the turbulent relationship between Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet). After their breakup, Joel discovers that Clementine has had surgery to erase every memory involving Joel, thereby making him a stranger in her eyes. Angered, he contacts the inventor, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) to perform the same surgery on him. However, in the midst of the process Joel regrets his decision and fights to remember her. We learn of their relationship through the dreamy memories being erased by the process.

A highbrow, postmodern story, Eternal Sunshine is an enjoyable and unique adventure. Considering the subject material, it is certainly difficult to follow and contains some odd and downright confusing scenes. For instance, there is one scene in which Jim Carrey plays himself as a four year old, whining and hiding under his dinner table. The quirkiness of the style will no doubt turn some viewers off, but the ambitious idea is worthy of admiration.

An all-star cast reflects the universal respect for Kaufmann's work in the film industry. Leading actors such as Wilkinson, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst shine in supporting roles. They all seem well-tuned to the characters they play, though the clean-cut Wood may have been miscast as a manipulative loser.

As leads, Carrey and Winslet are superb. Winslet is particularly engaging as the spunky Clementine, proving she is one of the better female actors on the planet. Clementine's character is quirky and original, played wonderfully by Winslet by not falling into the common trap of overacting.

Eternal Sunshine has its lulls and gaps, but Kaufmann and Gondry so perfectly craft the lead personalities I was disappointed that the movie had to end. I found myself reluctantly getting out of my seat and exiting the theater, wishing for more movie. Very few films can invoke such caring for its characters. Once again, Charlie Kaufmann has made an imaginative, shoot-for-the-stars film, and with Eternal Sunshine he has delivered a movie that is anything but the standard. For movie lovers, a must-see.

POP RATING: 4.5

CRITICAL RATING: 9

B'S RATING: 8

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