There's something here, but I don't get it.

Rating: 6/10 (15 February 2008)

As per usual, I knew nothing about this film before I watched it. I vaguely knew that it involved memory in some way, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Alas, the film began and I watched 108 minutes of the most disjointed cinema that I've ever see. I don't mean to imply that the film was bad, but I had such difficulty following it, that I couldn't enjoy it. I like to empathize with characters and the situations in which they find themselves and I couldn't do that. Every time (during the prolonged dream sequence) that Joel and Clementine were on screen, the shot would abruptly shift back to Joel's apartment where Patrick, Mary, or Stan was doing some random activity. This created a very surrealist feeling to the film. If you've seen "Un Cien Andalou" or another film from that era, you can understand what I'm trying to say. I'm not trying to be prude, but the experience of watching the film was so strange, that I could only think of that way to describe it.
As I watched The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I couldn't help but wonder how mysterious Gondry's imagination must be. This film (other than a few obligatory pot and male bonding jokes) is entirely original. Nearly the entire film takes place in the dream world and the characters know it but how? Why was Clementine as desperate to keep her memory of Joel as he was of her? Were the opening sequence and the closing one different perspectives of the same sequence? These were the primary questions that I had as I watched. After I had finished watching, I think that Gondry wanted to develop a film about the importance of maintaining one's memory regardless of how painful it may be. I don't know though, can you read insight into this odd film? I doubt it, but at least I can pretend to be an English major.
The film critics among the audience may enjoy the fast cuts and the numerous jump shots. All of them were necessary to add to the paranoia of the picture. During the dream sequence, there were several instances of low key lighting which were brilliant. They added to the "hurried" feeling. Also, when Carrey's character would recognize his memory failing, he would see the empty faces of various people (including himself). This probably took make-up artist Panchenko several hours for such short scenes. I was also pleased with how well match cuts were used to move Joel from memory to memory. As for acting, I've no complaints. Carrey, Winslet, and Cross did very good. Dunst, Wood, and Ruffalo didn't perform as well as I've seen them since their roles were mostly comedic. What surprises me most of all is how genuine Carrey acted Joel. Unlike other mostly-comedic actors, Carrey has significant talent and can perform outside of his preferred genre.
I give this film a negative review you might say? Well no, I give this film a slightly positive review, but subtract many points because it's so very confusing. I've never felt a need for a hard copy of a script as badly as I did while watching this film. If you can handle the confusing set of events (which at times are a tad illogical), or if you're a philosopher, then you'll enjoy this film. Whatever message the film may have, I just don't get. I'm sure there is one, or it wouldn't be in the top 50 of the IMDb poll, so give it a go. Maybe after some more psychology classes (yea right) I'd understand it.