An eccentric, thought provoking psychological love story.

Rating: 10/10 (31 March 2010)

Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an eccentric, thought-provoking love-story that explores the relationships we form with others in our memories, and the age old philosophical question of whether true love can prevail over the scientific nature of life. The plot derives from an idea captured in a quote from the infamous poet, Alexander Pope.
"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;"
"Sunshine" sees Joel (Jim Carrey), a socially inept and withdrawn character, and the mysterious, eccentric Clementine (Kate Winslet) falling in love after Joel's spontaneity leads him to a train station in Montauk. But there's a catch, to Clementine something feels a little too familiar about their encounter for it to be real, however Joel puts this feeling aside as an after thought. That is until Joel and Clementine have a deal breaker fight. Desperate to make amends and win the love of his life back, Joel goes in search of Clementine, only to find that Clementine appears to be completely unaware of his existence, let alone aware of their previous long-term relationship together. Introduce Lacuna Inc, a company that specialises in erasing the memories of those who simply cannot live with them. Although such a set-up seems all too predictable, Kaufman merely uses it as a device in order for his audience to access the films message on a deeper, more philosophical level. In an impulsive act, Joel turns to Lacuna Inc, and seeks revenge in the form of erasing the burden of Clementine from his mind forever.
"Technically speaking, the operation is brain damage, but it's on a par with a night of heavy drinking. Nothing you'll miss." Joel is assured.
However, once the procedure is underway, in the light of increasingly intoxicated Patrick (Elijah Wood) and Stan (Mark Ruffalo), Joel suddenly has doubts about getting rid of Clementine, perhaps it was a step too far. In true non-chronological fashion, Kaufman unravels this twisted science-fiction tale before the audience's eyes, as Joel slowly relives his memories with Clementine over again, he realises that with every memory that passes he's slipping further and further away from Clementine Whilst the books tumble, letters erase and faces fade, Joel begins his desperate struggle against the inevitable erasal of Clementine.
Jim Carey is particularly brilliant in his heart-rending performance as withdrawn Joel Barish, successfully demonstrating his versatility as an actor to perhaps speculative critics, after many type-cast him to his Ace Ventura antics. Kate Winslet is particularly excellent in her portrayal of the vibrant free-spirit Clementine, who gives a thoroughly insightful, though-provoking performance. Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst also provide a commendable, performance, as Kaufman lets loose the last trick up his sleeve with his perception of other consequences that could arise from such a procedure.
Unbeknown to Mary (Kirsten Dunst), she's had more experience of the Lacuna procedure than she thinks. After an affair between Mary, and Doctor Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), who masterminded the procedure, is uncovered by his bitter wife, Mary consents to the process herself in order to prevent such an affair ever occurring again. However, unforeseen by the Doctor, although Mary's memories of their affair were eradicated, her feelings towards him certainly never faded, so much so that Mary begins to fall for the Doctor all over again. After a fumbled kiss, Doctor Mierzwiak's wife pleads with him to finally reveal the truth to Mary, whom before hadn't ever considered how ugly such a process can really be. Distraught, Mary mails back all the tapes to any patient that has ever had their memory erased by Lacuna Inc; causing untold consequences for those who may be unaware such an event ever occurred, including Joel and Clementine.
Although many critics of the film argue that Kaufman's non chronological order is too much of an obvious and repetitive technique, I feel that it's presence within the film is invaluable, as not only does it emphasise Joel's state of confusion, it allows the far deeper message of "Sunshine" to seep into our imagination. Joel's inability to prevent Lacuna Inc from forever erasing his entanglement with Clementine could be related to one's own inability to control the acts of everyday fate, with our own higher power acting as Lacuna Inc. "Sunshine" is ultimately Kaufman's expression of a deeper, psychological message concerning the human mind itself; how the different relationships we form with others (particularly those whom we cherish) in our minds can completely differ from the relationships that exist in our former life, and how we often glorify the positive memories in favour of neglecting the perhaps more unpleasant ones.