Some memories are best not forgotten.

Rating: Null/10 (19 March 2004)

First things first, THIS IS NOT A COMEDY. It's not a drama either, but I would have to compare it to a more entertaining and energetic "Lost in Translation" in terms of general feeling. Just don't want people to be "confused" by the marketing of this movie. It's beautiful, and brilliant but not the comedy it's being sold as. It's a story of love, fate, and essential being.
That said, it's one of the best movies I've seen all year. At first you'll need to take a leap of faith and be a bit patient as the story is laid out. Not quite like Memento, but if you've seen that you'll get my drift: stay with it and pay attention.
Jim Carey plays Joel. His life story is not well drawn, but suffice to say he meets Clementine (Kate Winslet) and gradually grows a realistically important and quite touching relationship with her. As the trailer shows, things start to turn bad between them and Joel decides to get the memory of her erased.
During this process he's confronted with her memories and has to deal with the loss and joy of their relationship. Would you erase the good with the bad? Would you want to remember good times despite bitter feelings and regret?
This movie is Kate Winslet's best work. She's vivacious as usual and provides her best human qualities to date. Jim Carey is very subdued and it works pefectly in this context. Kirsten Dunst provides the surprise performance as the doctors assistant.
Ultimately it's a movie that will force you to think about the value of accepting the good and bad. Drugs, alcohol, psychology, and evenutally medical procedures can help you forget the pain and dispare of being in love and failing, but would you really want to forget?