A complete film from top to bottom

Rating: Null/10 (22 March 2004)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of those rare films that features every element of the filmmaking process in communal triumphant majesty. There isnt a single thing missing from this production. When all is said and done Im going to have a tough time finding a more enjoyable film than this in the coming season.
A good film must be based on a solid screenplay, and since this is Kaufman's best one to date, we are already off to a great start. Everything about this offering from him is focused, engaging and interesting. Perhaps its because he is now a seasoned veteran, or maybe its because the themes here are more personal and sentimental than his last few scripts, but whatever it is, he just totally dominates the craft of creating a screenplay here. True to form, he avoids all of the cheap, cliche sentimentality of Hollywood films and forces the audience member to interact with the subject matter and engage their mind in order to get anything out of the film - something that turns out to be a far more rewarding payoff than the standard silver platter method of emotional delivery that is plaguing most movies lately. I respect this dimension of his work and acknowledge that somehow he takes his skills to the next level with this one.
Throw in Gondry's excellent and inventive direction to the mix and the film is heading higher. His chamera techniques and use of light, movement and space is impeccable and he captures the essence of the emotions in a beautiful, unique way. I tip my hat to his directing, realizing that the subject matter called for something over the top and skilled. Thanks to Gondry's fine work, the words and ideas are given life through his phenomenal directing.
All you need is some top notch performances, and boy does this movie deliver here. Jim Carrey seems (oddly enough) made for this role, and his dramatic performance here exceeds any of his comdeic roles comparatively. He seems comfortable with his character, and his understated approach here gives his charecter form and shape. I knew Carrey could act decently if given the right material, but this really was a revelation I think. This performance should be his career defining role. With Kate Winslet its basically the same story - powerhouse acting on a higher level than we are used to lately. Too bad the academy will bypass these performances come oscar time for the conventional, cookie cutter teary routine from denzel washington or whoever else. These performances are the kind that deserve serious recognition.