Odd, but very, very good

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2004)

Some people I work with said I should go and see this. Usually, they get my taste in films spot-on, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed this.
ESotSM is weird. Suspend your disbelief and immerse yourself in it, because you're certainly not going to get a more original storyline again in a hurry, nor are you likely to see a better film. It was almost so strange as to be perfectly believable. The idea of a world where you can go and erase painful memories, where there's even a limit on how many procedures you can have in a month, is funny, but also disturbing.
I wasn't comfortable watching this. I did feel like the idea of such a procedure was taking way too many liberties. There are just some things that we're not meant to do. Imagine hearing that someone has erased you from their memory, *shudder*. But the fact that Carrey's character Joel explores the disadvantages of that and tries to reverse the effects, though unsuccessfully, is compelling.
The acting was great, especially Carrey, who is so much better in serious roles. I've never liked that madcap face pulling he does and I hardly remembered it was him as I was watching this. He was so understated, excellent.
And, Patrick was the perfect role for Elijah Wood after LoTR. His obsession with Clem and stealing Joel's memories was almost perverse. How sleazy can you get? It made me completely forget his portrayal of the good-intentioned Frodo.
Kirsten Dunst as the almost tragic Mary was also excellent. I felt so sorry for her having her memories violated in that way, when all she had done was fall in love. Dunst is definitely a young actress to watch out for.
I really hope this movie does well. Despite the fact that its subject matter is quite grim and you can't really say that it ends happily, it has, somehow, warmed my heart. It's clever and compelling and it will be really interesting to see what happens come awards time...