"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a movie that defies categorization.Built on a science-fiction premise and dominated by surreal visuals, the film is nonetheless, at its core, a romance. However, this is not a film where people fall in love, someone gets sick, and everyone remembers how to enjoy life again. "Eternal Sunshine" is more intricate than that, and although this complexity makes the film less accessible, it also serves to make it more rewarding.
The second collaboration between director Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman, "Eternal Sunshine" revolves around the tumultuous relationship between Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet). Following their painful breakup, Joel discovers Clementine has paid to have him erased from her memory through a procedure offered by Dr. Mierzwiak(Tom Wilkinson) at Lacuna Inc. Going to Mierzwiak's office seeking an explanation of what has occurred, Joel ends up asking to have his memories of Clementine removed in an effort to get revenge.
While Joel is asleep with the help of sedatives provided by Lacuna, Mierzwiak's assistants Stan (Mark Ruffalo) and Patrick (Elijah Wood) enter his apartment to begin the procedure. They are later joined by Mary (Kirsten Dunst), Stan's girlfriend and the company's receptionist.
As Joel's memories of Clementine begin to disappear, he comes to the realization that his decision was a mistake and there are some experiences he wants to keep. Unable to halt the process or communicate with his attendants who are ignoring him in favor of drug-fueled revelry, Joel is forced to race through his own mind in an attempt to save Clementine from destruction.
The story unfolds in a dizzying manner as the action oscillates between past and present with the audience often left to figure out when exactly the action on screen is taking place. Kaufman is frequently criticized for his propensity to create unwieldy, non-linear storylines, such as "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation," but "Eternal Sunshine" is more easily understood than these films. With this film, Kaufman has created a story with equal parts emotion, intelligence and humor that manages to be clever while avoiding impenetrable complexity.
Visually, Gondry and cinematographer Ellen Kuras create a dazzling canvas that illuminates the various corridors of Joel's mind without obscuring the emotional center of the film. They use a variety of styles and textures to create a movie of undeniable beauty. Scenes involving concepts as difficult as the physical disintegration of memory are handled with aplomb and an artistic originality that is compelling to watch. "Eternal Sunshine" possesses a unique visual style that is both aesthetically striking and emotionally moving.
However, all of Kaufman and Gondry's work would be largely ineffective were it not for the superb performances that hold thefilm together. Winslet expertly constructs Clementine's vibrant personality while managing to keep her character from becoming a caricature -- no mean feat for a character given to sniffing glue sticks and constantly changing the color of her hair.
Carrey, as always, finds a place for his manic humor in the movie, but for most of "Eternal Sunshine" his comedic skills are subsumed under a subtlety and quietness that makes Joel a touching protagonist.
The performances by the supporting cast are outstanding as well. They keep the action happening outside of Joel's head as engaging as that which occurs within. It is a credit to the movie that even the relatively minor characters played by Wilkinson, Ruffalo, Dunst and Wood are developed so that each one in some way contributes to the understanding of relationships that infuses the story.
Toward the end of the film, Joel and Clementine find themselves reunited. As they come together again they are faced with tangible evidence of the bitterness and anger that will likely mark the end of their relationship, should they decide to enter into it again. Though we, in real life, lack the concrete proof afforded Joel and Clementine, we tacitly understand that the majority of our relationships will conclude with this type of animosity, and those choice few that remain free of such resentment are still no less finite in nature.
Nevertheless, we chose to move forward because we realize that the experience of a relationship is far more important than how it ends. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" illustrates this point with a poignancy that resonates long after the film is over. When asked by Clementine what they should do in the final moments of their last memory together, Joel simply replies, "Enjoy it" -- a response that serves as both a touching sentiment and a fitting distillation of the film's ultimate message.
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