Rent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Eternal Sunshine - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by CP Customer

Charlie Kaufman has to be the quirkiest mainstream screenwriter Hollywood has ever tolerated. His films are often completely insane, but always startlingly original, and that's what makes them such compulsive viewing.

The trailer suggests a film that will envelop the viewer in a whirlwind of emotions. And for the first 20 minutes at least, it does, so captivating is Joel and Clementine's first meeting.

Only in the second act does the film begin to falter slightly, but it's back up to speed quickly.

Jim Carrey gives another excellent performance and he's matched every step of the way by Kate Winslett. She's irresistible here and, without doubt, more watchable than we've ever seen her.

Kaufman assures that his leads are real and complex - Joel likeable and goodhearted, but also pathetic, Clementine enticing and exotic, yet impetuous and cruel. Carrey and Winslett must have delighted in these nuances of character, as their performances alone are worth the price of admission.

Director Peter Gondry mixes the real and surreal with an ease and regularity that impresses. His confidence and editing skills were gained in the music industry and these skills must be prerequisite when collaborating with Kaufman one assumes.

Kaufman's detractors will, no doubt, state that his screenplays are precocious and self-congratulatory harboring delusions of profundity. But quite simply, whatever you think, his work attracts some of the finest actors in Hollywood - John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Jim Carrey.

You can't argue with that.

Surprisingly good - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by CP Customer

A film about relationships starring Jim Carey. I think it's fair to say I was not looking forward to it.

It was actually a great film, one of those rare viewing experiences that really opens your mind.

European style film - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by CP Customer

This time Jim Carray isn't the funny man - this is more an art house movie and can be quite difficult to follow because of the chronological mishmash, but if you wait to end things become more clear and make sense. It is almost a philosophical movie asking interesting questions about erasing your memory of unhappy or unpleasant experiences.

Not your average American candy floss - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by PM

Not sure how a previous reviewer could think that this was going to be easy going. It is thought provoking, interesting and challenging. You do have to be prepared to work, and to see it through to the end. It is a little bit "pop psychology" in it's view of memory, but hey, no-one claimed scientific accuracy. I really enjoyed it - it is so much more engaging than your average bubble gum movie.

Eternal Sunshine - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by Cherry

A very clever, interesting film

Michel's magic on the big screen - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by CP Customer

Michel Gondry is an incredibly talented director. He's put all his talents creating music videos for Chemical Bros., Bjork & Daft Punk to work and made a bizarre and unusual film which will twist your head off and tickle your brain.

Wonderful, Unforgettable Romantic Film - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind review by GI

There's something quite magical, mystical and uplifting in this tale of true love and destiny. A wonderfully clever idea and beautifully structured romantic film that posits that love will find a way and that memories are important even when relationships end. This is a story about Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), who meet, fall in love and each brings out a side in each other they didn't know they had. Joel tends to be withdrawn while Clementine in impulsive but when their relationship sours Joel is heartbroken and angry when he discovers Clementine has undergone a revolutionary procedure to have all her memories of Joel erased. Partly in revenge and partly for self preservation Joel decides to have the same treatment but whilst under the anaesthesia he fights to retain at least one memory of Clementine as they all gradually start to fade. With a large section of the film told from the perspective of the unconscious Joel trying to control his memory this is an intricate story edited perfectly and balanced with the involvement of the four members of the team carrying out the procedure: Tom Wilkinson as Harold the pioneer who devised it, Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood as his assistants and Kirsten Dunst as the office girl. Their part in the story is far more involved than at first revealed. The film is humorous, sad and delves into the shadows of the inner self and the human desire to eradicate painful memories, it's a wonderful and unforgettable film and one to revisit every so often because it's a real joy.