An exceptionally honest and poignant love story!

Rating: 10/10 (18 June 2008)

* * * * (Excellent)
I admit, I'm a tough critic who is rarely impressed by current and recent films from Hollywood. Rarely a film comes about with an outstanding and very original story. This is such a film. I'm viewing and critiquing this film four years after it's theatrical release. I was aware of the critical acclaim for this film before viewing it.
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004), is an exceptionally intelligent, sensitive, romantic and honest film about memories and falling in and out of love. This film has a very complicated story that frequently jumps around in time. I wasn't paying complete enough attention the first viewing and so viewed it a second time, when I picked up on critical moments I missed the first time, especially a critical line of dialog that really links and help make sense of the complicated story. The story of this film is told as a "mobius strip", that wraps around and connects back to itself. I was not familiar with the origin of the title of this film. My first impression was the title is intriguing and poetic.
The story concerns a man having his memory erased of a woman he recently had a stormy romantic relationship with. He is using a supposed medical treatment that can selectively erase unpleasant or troublesome memories. My brief story description, is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg, here the iceberg is the film's story. There are a lot of wonderful things to discover in this film and I don't want to tease or spoil things for the reader. I believe that in describing something complicated, less, truly is, more.
Jim Carrey gives a credible performance in his lead acting role here in a drama film. His first was in "The Truman Show" (1998). Kate Winslet, is the acting highlight of the film, giving, yet another impressive and memorable acting performance in the lead actress role of the film, opposite Jim Carey.
This is a film, in which many positive things can be said about, in a long review. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I lack the knowledge and talent for that. Films about memories are difficult to make in a convincing manner. "Memento" (2000), also a film about memory, works in a different and less impressive style than "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". The only recent excellent film about memory that comes to mind is "Afterlife" (Japan, 1998). The best stories are ones that are original, genuine, keenly perceptive and brutally honest. "Eternal Sunshine" is truly a thought provoking film about the usefulness and purpose of human memories, good and bad.
Awards: Nominated for and won Academy Award for "Best Original Screenplay", Kate Winslet nominated (her fourth acting nomination) for Academy Award as Best Actress in a Leading Role. Kate Winslet is the youngest ever actress to achieve 4 Academy Award nominations for acting. She achieved her fourth here, at age 29, for this film.