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.
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