A brilliant and thought provoking film. A 'must-see'!

Rating: 9/10 (27 September 2005)

"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned." - Alexander Pope.
Charlie Kaufmans 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' is a fresh, original, intelligent circular film. This quote not only provides the moral to "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but also what the film investigates. It questions whether forgetting certain past experiences provides eternal sunshine for a spotless mind. It explores the concept of memory erasure, its consequences and raises the question; if you had the option to erase a memory would you? This film has explored and portrayed the concept very well and it's definitely worth seeing.
The narration is authentic with the aid of several talented actors including Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst. The special effects are clever as memories deconstruct while the two characters run through and re-enact these memories.
Joel (Carrey) is socially inefficient, quiet and self-contained 3-dimensionally viewed character (we view him in his conscious, unconscious and subconscious states). He meets his precise opposite, Clementine (Winslet) a wild, adventurous, flamboyant, multi-layered and multi-faceted woman on a chance meeting and they immediately connect as 'opposites attract'. However the relationship ends through constant arguments and Joel soon comes to discover that Clementine has subsequently had her memory erased of him by a company called Lacuna. In retaliation and pure heartbreak Joel books himself in for the procedure.
The erasing process involves mind-mapping his brain and then an 'all night' process of erasing each memory from the most recent to the primary meeting. Although mind erasure is impossible and somewhat unbelievable, Kaufman is able to compel you to accept such a procedure to be true as it is explained in detail.
The technicians Stan (Ruffalo) and Patrick (Wood) who carry out the erasure, along with Secretary Mary (Dunst) provide an element of humour as they drunkenly jump on his bed in their underwear oblivious to the unconscious patient.
Most of the film takes place in Joel's mind as we meander in and out of his memories and sub consciousness during the erasing of the memories he has of Clementine. During some of the memories he is re-en acting, he is able to compose various incidents that never existed due to being in his sub-conscious state.
The most recent memories are bitter from arguments and of a run-down relationship. But as we move further into the past, and reminisce on his and Clementine's best moments, Joel is reminded of why he loved and still loves Clementine. With this recollection, Joel wishes to stop the procedure but in his unconscious state the drunkards dancing on his bed are oblivious. We then watch him and his mental materializations of Clementine flee from erasing memories. He attempts to store her in the depths of his other memories which are not on the mind map. The story unravels with unexpected twists and a questionable ending as to whether it is a sad or joyful closure. Perhaps that is up to you.
The conclusion of the film is more of an enigma and it is one of several; would we have our memory erased and what would the consequences be? Also would we be prepared to erase the bad memories as well as the good?
This is Jim Carrey's best performance. My opinion fluctuated from a previous negative perception of his typical comedic roles. He played Joel with poignancy and honesty. He captures the essence of the character with utter brilliance. I truly felt for Joel and related to his character as we all know someone like him.
Also Kate Winslet's (out of the ordinary) role as fiery Clementine is one to admire with the best portrayal of 'waking up' I have ever seen. This was one of Winslet's best roles. She and Carrey made the unlikely couple seem perfect for each other.
I adore Gondry's music and in various moments such as when Joel is crying whilst driving, the music is most apt. It enhances the bizarre feel to the film as well as the emotional aspect.
Although the film could be situated in the science-fiction genre, the essence of the film is the emotions and relationships between characters. Its lack of success at the box office in the U.S and U.K in 2003 is misleading as this is an original film with depth and intelligence because it gives the aspect that memories can be bought and sold in a commercial way, but experiences are what shape our character and to erase them would be to deny our past. It may be an indication that what is most popular at the box office is not always the best film available.