If only it were true

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2019)

Expect a bit of a weird script from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, since it was co-written by Charlie Kaufman. While some of his films are just too strange for me to enjoy, this one is very good. The premise is so intriguing, everyone who watches it can't help but wish it could really happen in real life. Imagine a procedure that could erase certain selected memories. You talk to the doctor, explain what you want to remove, bring in objects or your diary that make you recall those memories, and as those parts of your brain light up in recognition, he removes them. Isn't that fantastic?
Unfortunately, it's only a movie, despite the very realistic infomercial of Tom Wilkinson telling you all about the simple procedure. In the imaginative movie, people can go to Dr. Wilkinson's office and remove any memory of a painful breakup; letters will be sent to their friends informing them of the operation and requesting that they never try to remind them since it will only cause confusion. Once the memories have been erased, so has the memory of visiting the doctor, otherwise the person might wonder what it was they wanted to forget.
Doesn't this premise make you want to rent it? I don't have to tell you Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are the fantastic dramatic leads, or that the entire cast gives wonderful performances. I don't have to entice you with the supporting cast of Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Jane Adams, David Cross, and Kirsten Dunst. Tom is perfectly cast as the trustworthy doctor, and Kirsten takes a small but memorable role that's different from the parts she's played in her teenaged career. You'll want to rent it without knowing anything else about it, won't you? Good, but don't watch it with your sweetie pie, as it might make for a very awkward evening.