Unforgettable

Rating: 9/10 (20 August 2004)

"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner." - Tallulah Bankhead
Why do I love "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?" Because it's refreshingly unique, funny and the most inventive love story made in a very long time.
Charlie Kaufman proves once more he's quite possibly the most original screenwriter working today. "Being John Malkovich" was ingenious, and even Kaufman's lesser work - the first two-thirds of "Adaptation" had some of the best writing in recent memory, but the film fell apart in a ridiculous third act - is better than much of what Hollywood churns out regularly.
Buoyed by two fine performances by Jim Carrey as Joel Barrish and (an outstanding) Kate Winslet as Clementine, and Ellen Kuras' vibrant cinematography, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" dares its viewers to ponder hard about the story and to try and work out the plot in their minds. Kaufman eschews the genre's clichés and conventional plot points, which often are albatrosses around writers of romantic-comedies and -dramas.
Despite a mind-boggling narrative and dizzying visuals, Kaufman and director Michel Gondry make us care about Joel and Clementine. Which is more than can be said of many conventional romantic films these days. Kaufman's story disorients us, but does make sense. It might seem as if Joel and Clementine are simply meeting endlessly but, as the story unfolds, what you thought was senseless becomes perfectly clear.
The film seems to insist we're bound to repeat the same mistakes when it comes to love and relationships. And given the emotional trauma we often endure in love, who wouldn't want to erase sour memories? But erasure also excises all the good stuff, which often is what makes the bad stuff so tolerable anyway.
Carrey's an ideal Joel. He brings the right amount of whimsy and confusion to the part. It's a sensationally good breakaway from Carrey's slapstick work. Winslet captivates us as Clementine. Her quirkiness, coupled with an intense lovability, makes her utterly enchanting. And superb supporting turns by Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood help enormously, too.
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" could only have come from the mind of Kaufman. Despite its unconventional approach, the film makes a very basic point: that it's natural for human beings to have a tremendous capacity and desire for romance, love and relationships, no matter the pitfalls. And so, as Joel might say, all we can do is, "Enjoy it."