Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Review

After finally watching this remarkable film I must say that I was blown away. This movie is deep and passionate, dealing with complex themes involving love. This movie is gripping and affectionate, appealing to the viewer through some fantastic imagery and an original story. The best part of this movie is the story, as it is so different than any other movies I have seen, dealing with the main character Joel, played by Jim Carrey, getting the memories of his relationship with his girlfriend Clementine, played by Kate Winslet, erased so that he doesn't have to deal with the living without her.

The casting in this film is excellent, every character perfectly fitting into their role. When I saw Jim Carrey in the starring role, I assumed that the movie would instantly use him as a means for some form of comedic relief. However this was not the case, and the movie proves that Carrey is an amazingly talented actor that can play serious roles. Kate Winslet is wonderful as the free spirited Clementine, and her character's degradation into an unhappy zombie is depressing and believable. Even the supporting actors, such as Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst, are perfectly cast and play their roles with passion. Elijah Wood is great as the slimy memory-eraser that tries to get with Winslet after her memory is erased, and Kirsten Dunst plays the most memorable role in her career as an obsessive and seductive receptionist.

The sets of the film are absolutely great, perfectly capturing the mood of the scene and providing a deeper understanding of the main characters' relationship, as the story goes backwards through their relationship to show the audience how they eventually reached their destination. The setting begins to disappear as Joel relives his experiences, which is a very powerful effect as he tries to hold on to the last few pieces of Clementine.

The musical score is engaging and important to telling the story, as it evokes emotion and passion from every scene. The editing isn't too special, yet the film does an excellent job of making sure the story flows properly and at an interesting pace. The camerawork is trippy at parts, utilizing some shakycam, however not becoming too overused or obtrusive.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a powerful and beautiful movie. I would really urge anyone to see it, as the movie is very remarkable. The film combines some excellent storytelling and camerawork with an engaging and original plot to create a perfect film. This movie hasn't influenced cinema or changed the way movies are made, but it is a perfect film, nothing wrong with it that I could see.

Rating 10/10