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Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Film // Jim // 15th May 2004

Christ, I really can’t stand Jim Carrey. I mean I’m sure he is a very nice man etc. etc., but everything I have seen him in has annoyed me to the point of applying for a visa to visit America and a handgun licence.

Carrey forced to watch The Cable Guy

From the zany “comedies” (Ace Ventura and The Mask), to the concept “comedies” (Liar, Liar, Bruce Almighty), the gross out Farelly “comedies” (Dumb and Dumber etc.) and the stabs at dramatic roles (Truman Show, Man on the Moon) I always have an overwhelming urge to check my passport is in order and arrange a convincing alibi. So it is with trepidation that I take my seat to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, drawn by the promise of a collaboration between twisted genius writer Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) and director of genius twisted music videos, Michel Gondry. I am certainly expecting Carrey to be the weak link in this movie which sports an excellent supporting cast including Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Kisten Dunst and Elijah Wood.

Like the other Charlie Kaufman films you may have seen this is a metaphysical comedy-drama with philosophical overtones, the central conceit of which is a consideration of the consequences of being able to erase unhappy/unwanted memories.

Carrey takes over from Nicholas Cage as the (less literal) Kaufman substitute Joel Barish, an introverted type with a penchant for scribbling in his journal. After a experiencing relationship problems with Clementine, one of those free-spirited, bohemian type women that only exist in the world of films (Winslet), Joel discovers that she has had all memories of him wiped by the seemingly benign, yet strangely ramshackle Lacuna Inc. Deeply upset, Joel decides to go through the procedure to remove Clementine from his mind, however during the erasure, he comes to realise that he doesn’t want to lose her and embarks on a strange adventure through his constantly vanishing memories.

Ruffalo: Hair, Vague

The film itself is an initially baffling affair due to the unusual structure; bits of it are backwards, some of it is forwards and (as in many of Gondry’s dream-like videos) the whole thing is in fact circular. However the structure is intrinsic to communicating an intricate plot which is a world away from the usual shite served up by the dream factory. People who understand these things better than me have often complained that Kaufman scripts have “third act issues” citing especially the mental ending to Adaptation. ESOTSM suffers from no such problems rounding off the journey through the story of Joel Barish’s mind and the strange work of Lacuna Inc. in a satisfying and thought provoking manner. Besides, anyone who uses the term “third act issues” or anything similar in print or out loud is probably a bit of a twat and I reckon the ending of adaptation is a massive piss-take anyhow.

Dunst: Undies, Memories

The interesting and engaging story is assisted throughout by the use of clever visual tricks and subtle special effects which add to the story rather than distracting from it. All of the cast are very good, especially Mark Ruffalo as the vaguely stoned technician - sporting my haircut circa 1997 who gets to dance around with Dunst in her undies. As for Carrey he is actually quite good, none of the usual tics or smugness come through and at times you actually feel quite sorry for him. For the time being I’ll be cancelling the subscription to Guns & Ammo and the LA Celebrity Homes guidebook.

One disappointment for all you Coventry City fans out there, the ELO song Mr Blue Sky used in the trailer does not put in an appearance in the film. Boo.

Winslet and Carrey: Erasure, Bohemian

Some links...

Lacuna Inc

Web site of the memory removal experts

Official Site

trailer, gushing biographies etc

Being Charlie Kaufman

Detailed fan site with news, scripts etc

Michel Gondry

Info on the Director from the aptly named Director File

Jim Carrey Sightings

From the obsessively comprehensive Jim Carrey Online, heartwarming tales of what a lovely fella JC is in real life. I feel so ashamed.