Charlie Kaufman Charlie Kaufm Charl

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2004)

Charlie Kaufman is the first writer auteur. I mean, how many people know I.A.L. Diamond (Billy Wilder's partner), Nunnelly Johnson (Howard Hawks, et al.) For once the screenwriter is all important (or at least most important). Change directors, change stars and you STILL have a distinctly "Charlie Kaufman" event.
Admittedly, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" lacks the shear audacious originality of "Being John Malcovitch" or "Adaptation." After John Woo had much the same concept for "Paycheck." Nonetheless, Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry (He a low-tech genius) have fashioned a story out of time. Frequently, it is very difficult to determine "what" is happening "when;" and, for once, that's a good thing.
It's Kaufman genius to place the company performing the "brain damaging" treatment, in what appears to be a dishevel dentist's office. Or to give the "medical" crew less professional than the worst "roto rooter" service.
Jim Carrey is brilliant as Joel, the uptight writer/artist of journals. Joel lives his life through his writing, whereas "Clementine" (Kate Winslett, simply lives. It's Joel who suddenly realize the tremendous loss of experience, even the unpleasant ones.
The profound subplot involving Kursten Dunst came at me right out of left field. However, this "real time" experience gives the movie its weight; more so than anything Joel or Clementine express or experience.
If Charlie Kaufman can be faulted, it's that he can't leave well enough alone. The silliness nearly undid "Being John Malcovitch," and it doesn't help here. If "Adaptation" is any indication, this is due to Charlie's neuroses. I hope one day to see one of his movies, where he doesn't eventually cheapen his characters a mite with his absurdities. For now, it's just enough to appreciate the beauty of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," until it, too fades from conscious memory.
Charlie Kaufman Charlie Kaufm Charl
I give "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" a "9" for originality, performances, direction and singular profundity.