A luscious treat for your heart.

Rating: 9/10 (3 October 2004)

Profound and emotionally poignant, Eternal Sunshine will strike a cord with anyone who has experienced the spectrum of emotion that being in love brings. It deals with the pain that is caused by our love when it fails, and how strong our desire to forget it can be. No pain is greater than that which tears our heart apart- the very core of our body- yet Eternal Sunshine explores the value of the positive memories that are associated with the root of this pain.
*The next paragraph may contain minor SPOILERS*
Jim Carrey proves his dramatic acting talent in the role of Joel Barish, the introverted and realistically awkward protagonist who discovers that his girlfriend, Clementine, has had every memory of their two-year relationship erased by a doctor working for a company named Lacuna, Inc. Distressed, Joel visits Lacuna to receive the same treatment concerning his memory of Clementine, and an unraveling of memories begins- with Joel inside his own head as the memories disappear. As the process continues, the memories become a little sweeter to hold on to- and while Clementine's depth of character is gradually revealed we see that Joel would rather keep this love- despite the pain caused. The passion and conviction Joel feels comes out as he stands on a frozen lake within his own memory and yells, 'Can you hear me? I don't want this any more, I wanna call it off!' Unfortunately, the process cannot be halted and Joel is forced to try to fend off the process from inside his own head. As each memory is played out, the connection between Joel and Clementine gets stronger, until the emotional climax that is brought by the memory of the day they first met.
While Jim Carrey's performance as Joel is noteworthy, it is Kate Winslet that shines in her role as the beautiful, quirky and emotionally insecure Clementine. Her up-tempo personality that changes moods with the wind is portrayed with truthful accuracy and a reality that Winslet nails perfectly. The minor characters are also well acted on the whole- Elijah Wood portrays a pathetic loser who aids Mark Ruffalo in the technical procedure of the erasure, and even Kirsten Dunst manages as a secretary with a not-so-subtle crush on Lacuna's uninspiring doctor, played by Tom Wilkinson. Enhancing all of these performances throughout the film are the outstanding score and beautiful direction of Michel Gondry. The music flows with every conversation, and enhances the mood of each scene. Whether it is the awkwardness of two people first meeting, confusion of the erasure procedure, or a resigned loss of hope for holding on to a fading relationship, every atmosphere is created by the musical backing, and camera angles that enhance the emotions of the characters. By the end of the film we feel connected to the characters and are set up for a satisfying ending to a satisfying movie experience.
There are two things that this film screams to its audience. The first is that the pain of a lost relationship is not even comparable to the joyful memories that accompany a relationship or the impact that relationship has had on your life. Erasing the pain that living life brings is to deny life completely. The second is that there is a certain attraction that exists between two people, deeper than looks, emotion, and even memory, which simply cannot be erased. When two people are drawn to each other, something deeper connects them with an unbreakable bond, no matter what happens between them.
While watching Eternal Sunshine, one must leave a scientific mindset and technical understanding behind, and simply enjoy the lush treat this movie will provide for your heart. This film will cause laughter, confusion, a reality-check, and possibly tears to those who view it, but most importantly it will teach you about life. Personally, I thank you Charlie Kaufman for writing such an ingenious and poignant story that hit me right in the center of my wounded heart.
I give it a 9.28.