Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind User Reviews

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            Charlie Kaufman is known for his bizarre style of screenwriting. He let us enter the mind of a movie star in 1999’s Being John Malkovich, then followed that up with the even crazier plot in the form of Adaptation. Both are great movies, but his 2004 romantic comedy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, is easily my favorite of his works. Hell, it’s my favorite romantic comedy of all-time, and among the greatest movies I’ve ever seen.

            The plot centers on Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski, a couple who love each other very much but also make life hell for each other. One day, Clementine decides she has had enough, and has Joel erased from her memory with the help of a company named Lacuna Inc. Realizing this Joel decides the operation done. However, as he goes through his best and worst memories of Clementine, he realizes he’s made a horrible mistake.

            What makes Eternal Sunshine  unique are the events that take place inside Joel’s mind, as he relives his memories of Clementine while they are in the process of being wiped from his mind. The depiction of the mind is a tough thing to pull of, but Michel Gondry manages it beautifully. There are some really bizarre moments I don’t want to spoil here, but let’s just say there are a few scenes that are weird, bizarre, and even a little creepy in there presentation.

            What really makes the film shine (get it?) is the relationship at the core of it. Joel and Clementine are fully-developed characters, and they are simultaneously meant to be together and meant to be far away from each other. There are scenes that will both warm your heart and break it, maybe at the same time. Much credit needs to go to Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. I’ve never really like Jim Carrey, but he is perfect for the character of Joel, pulling of the awkward yet likable and frustrated Joel exceptionally. Kate Winslet’s performance as Clementine is even better. She is both crazy and lovable, but Winslet plays the part flawlessly.

            Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a must see film for fans of romantic comedies, and is easily one of my favorite films of all-time. It is one of the best films of 00s, and you really have to see this movie. It’s a touching love story that will touch the hearts of even the most cold-hearted movie fan.