interesting structure, lovely romance that feels true

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2004)

This movie has a complex structure and an interesting plot gimmick. That's good in and of itself, but they serve a larger purpose as well. The movie isn't really about the gimmick, but what people feel about each other, and why they get together and come apart, and the value that remains when a relationship breaks up. I also really admired how the bits I thought strained actually made perfect sense once they showed me the rest of the information.
This is the first movie where I recognized the authorial voice. Only Kaufman could have done this, and I would have known it even if I hadn't read about it. Carrey does a perfectly good job as a partial loser, and Winslet is captivating as what one critic called an "annoying flake". This couple isn't Romeo and Juliet - they're just folks. And they don't always appreciate what they have. I find it interesting that they seem to have a character arc of the sort that Kaufman lampooned in "Adaptation" - only this arc is rooted in human nature. It made perfect sense.

It's a good reminder that love is hard work. Complacency is a sure way to lose it. Thanks to all involved.