surreal romance flipped on its head.

Rating: 9/10 (25 November 2019)

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind absolutely exceeded my expectations. I was expecting your average romantic drama film about tormented lovers struggling to stay together, but Micheal Gondry took it in a completely different direction.
Instantly, the slight Sci-Fi element appealed to me. Certain shots and sets were impressive, testing the boundaries between CGI and live action. The plot bounced between flashbacks and present time, confusing viewers including myself. But by geniusly using Clem's hair as a way to map out the timeline, it provided a subtle way to comprehend the story.
The end of the film was an unexpected twist, as Mary returns the tapes to Clem, Joel and the other patients. I don't think Mary made the right choice. Everyone who underwent the procedure agreed to it, and some people did it for their own good, not just to spite them like Clen did. Mary made her choice based on her own emotions, which was her anger toward Howard. She felt robbed of her memories, and decided that everyone else did too. A lot of people made their own choice to erase the memory of someone and didn't want to remember, but now they're forced too. They all agreed to the procedure, even Mary.
The end also brought Joel and Clem back together, only for them to discuss that they'd probably end up breaking up again. Joel says he doesn't care, implying that no matter what happens, he just wants to be with her. I think that in the future, now knowing their past mistakes and grudges against each other, they'd stay together. Seeing how much Joel wanted to remember her and seeing Clem help him in his mind, you know they're made for each other.
Gordy does an amazing job telling such a complex, intertwining story and making it comprehensible and interesting to viewers. It leaves you satisfied, yet craving more. You want to see more of Clem and Joel in their past, other people finding out about their lost memories and what happened to Mary, Howard and Patrick in the end. Although you want more, it's a great way to end this film, leaving the future up to your imagination.