Kaufman: Departure & Arrival

Rating: Null/10 (17 March 2004)

Quirky, entertaining, and at times wonderful, Charlie Kaufman's scripts for "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation" were harbingers of a great talent. His new film is a step up: it's beyond fun and promise. There are glimpses here of the compelling brilliance, complexity and lasting impact of a Tom Stoppard, a Dennis Potter. Kaufman has arrived.
But first, there are a couple of obstacles to overcome. The first is the title. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is neither good marketing nor something that makes sense. Just get over it. (And remember that both "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" and "The Vertical Rays of the Sun" triumphed over their awkward, heliotropic handles.)
Second, disregard the advertising that punches up the science-fiction/Matrix-like theme of erasing memories of a relationship. Just auto-erase all the negative expectations that come up as the result. "Eternal Sunshine" is not about special-effects razzle-dazzle; it's about people. The writing, Michel Gondry's direction, gripping performances by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet combine to make it a treasure.

Sitting in the theater, not wanting the film to end, I remembered the major squirming through the endless video game of "The Return of the King," the obscene, sacrilegious sado-masochism of "The Passion of the Christ." Those two box-office wonders don't have a glimmer of the humanity and excellence of "Eternal Sunshine" - let's just hope that it gets an audience.