Cinema Tuesdays Review

Don't Erase This from Your Memory!
By Nathan Cone

Of all the movies I saw in 2004, none has stuck with me longer than "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." This movie, which should have been a hit at the box office, has been quietly gaining steam as we approach Oscar season, the result, I suspect, of its recent DVD release, and positive word-of-mouth. The film has already worked its way up to #33 on the Internet Movie Database's ongoing list of the Top 250 films of all time.

Actually, "Eternal Sunshine" was released on DVD last fall with a single disc package that was pretty good to begin with. Perhaps to keep the film on the public's radar, Focus Features saw fit to quickly release a second edition on DVD, this time a two-disc set. Again, I must rant against "double dipping," and shake my index finger at Focus, for there are no doubt many who already bought the DVD last fall, and are now groaning at the missed opportunity to own the movie with even more special features accompanying it.

"Eternal Sunshine" was written by Charlie Kaufman, he of "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich" fame. It's pretty clear after this movie that Kaufman is one of, if not the most original screenwriter working today. All three of those films, especially "Eternal Sunshine," manage to be strange and strangely touching at the same time.

In "Eternal Sunshine," Jim Carrey stars as Joel, a sad sack who meets Clementine (Kate Winslet), a freewheeling woman whose hair color seems to change every other time she's on screen. The two misfits strike up a relationship, but somewhere along the line, it goes bad, and Clementine has a procedure to "erase" the memory of Joel from her head. Joel, feeling hurt by her action, decides to do the same, but midway through the process, he starts to have second thoughts. That's the story in a nutshell, but the way it is told is quite unique. There are scenes inside the characters' heads that remind us of John Malkovich's entry into his own "portal" in "Being John Malkovich." There are fantastic set pieces involving frozen lakes and collapsing houses, and in one scene set in a bookstore, objects disappear from the shelves as Joel's memory becomes more fragmented.

"Eternal Sunshine" also has a surprising subplot involving the employees of Lacuna, the agency that Joel and Clementine visit to get their procedure done. Kirsten Dunst and Tom Wilkinson are standouts here.

"Eternal Sunshine" is a love story, but it is also about how our memories, even the painful ones, are important. They define our present selves. If you have loved -- be it a person, a pet, or a treasured personal object -- you will enjoy this movie. You may wonder where it's going, even when the opening credits don't appear on screen until 30 minutes into the film, but ultimately, you will be moved by this strange, strange romance.

The new DVD edition of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" features a commentary track by director Michel Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, a surprisingly candid Jim Carey interview, deleted scenes, an interview with Kate Winslet, and a backstage look at the making of the film. Dismiss this single disc package that came out last fall and let this new Special Edition shine on.

01/13/05

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