Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind DVD > Reviews > Memories are made of this...

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Original, well scripted and acted
Disadvantages:	Confusing at first, melancholic

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Have you ever wished you could wipe the memories of a certain person from your mind? It's an intriguing thought, and the basis of this brilliantly inventive romantic-comedy-drama, one of the best films of 2004.

Shy Joel (Jim Carrey) is upset when he discovers that his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has undergone a procedure at the futuristic organisation Lacuna Inc to have all her memories of him wiped. Left with memories of their short, fiery relationship, he himself signs up to have all his memories of Clementine erased. However, as the procedure begins and the memories start to disappear, the subconcious Joel decides he still loves Clementine and wants her back, thus beginning a trawl through his mind to do this and save their relationship.

Its a concept that could only have come from the pen of writer Charlie Kaufman, who previously scripted 'Being John Malkovich' and 'Adaptation', two wonderfully weird comedies. This time around the director is not Spike Jonze, but music video whiz Michel Gondry, a favourite of Bjork amongst others. While ESOTSM is much more accessible and conventional than the earlier Kaufman films, it still maintains a wonderfully surreal and skewed outlook, right up until the much talked about ending.

A haunting soundtrack adds to the laid-back, generally melancholic atmosphere, broken by some stand out moments of real comedy including Carrey playing Joel as his four year-old self, sitting in his pyjamas under his mothers table (it does make sense, honest!)

Anyone who saw Jim Carrey in 1998's 'The Truman Show' will no doubt know that apart from one of the most gifted comedians of his generation, he is also a fine dramatic actor, and here he again proves himself, cast against type as the mild-mannered, introverted Joel. Minus the mugging or physical comedy which made him such a star, he is proving to be one of the most watchable serious actors around.

Kate Winslet is a revelation alongside him, also playing against type as the free-spirited, hippyish Clementine, a polar opposite to Joel. It's her energy which carries the movie, while the two leads generate real chemistry and make up one of the likeable on-screen couples of recent years. You will find yourself rooting for the two as Joel tries to save his memories.

There is also strong support work from Tom Wilkinson and Kirsten Dunst as employees of Lacuna, while Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood are given little to do as the two scientists who perform the memory erasures. British actor Wilkinson (The Full Monty) is in particular making a name for himself in US films, while the ever watchable Dunst is the kooky secretary who is in for some surprises.

While the film may still be a little off-the-wall for some, it will reward anyone looking for something a bit different from your usual rom-com, and those with the patience to stick with the film from its baffling opening right through to the finale where everything starts to make sense.
It's certainly Kaufman's best script, and arguably Carrey's best dramatic performance.

The film is definitely worth a try and those seeking a cool spin on the genre, as well as fans of the above actors should definitely check it out.