Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)March 16th, 2004
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
Great concept but mediocre movie, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND is by writer Charlie Kaufman, who has certainly had his hits (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and ADAPTATION) and his misses (CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND and HUMAN NATURE). About a race against the erasers by Joel Barish, a guy who wanted to forget his girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), it has the feel of a science fiction short story stretched too far in order to expand it into a full length motion picture.
In his first serious part since his widely derided, box office bomb THE MAJESTIC, Jim Carrey plays Joel, who is as depressed and reserved as Clementine is gregarious and spontaneous. The story's central conceit is that Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) has figured out a way to selectively obliterate any person from someone's memory.
After Clementine wipes all memory of Joel from her consciousness, Joel decides to the do the same in return. But, as the operation is taking place -- performed by technicians Stan (Mark Ruffalo) and Patrick (Elijah Wood) with Mary (Kirsten Dunst) there to seduce and distract Stan -- Joel decides to try to stop the process by resisting. Most of the movie takes places in a fantasy world as Joel, with Clementine's encouragement and suggestions, tries to disappear into places in his brain where the technicians may have trouble finding him.
The movie has a lot on its mind but most scenes never gel. The dialog is snappy. When Clementine, who changes her hair color more than most people change their sox, first invites Joel up to her place, she tells him, "Drink up young man. It'll make the whole seduction part less repugnant." Later in the story, after he has grown tired of his motormouth girlfriend, he tells her, "Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating." Although mainly a drama, there is some very dry humor in it that will probably elicit some smiles even if little laughter. It's an imaginative story, but the movie never comes together. We are always intrigued by what will happen next, yet we never care about the characters. Your mostly likely reaction will be to look at your watch and wonder why this bizarre little tale is taking so long to say so little.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND runs 1:50. It is rated R for "language, some drug and sexual content" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, March 19, 2004. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: [email protected]
***********************************************************************
Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email?
Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
More on 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'...
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
