Run time: 1h 48m
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is a film that hasn’t really been on my radar. A friend of mine recommended it to me with the premise that it is a very unique and unusual film. This intrigued me and, as it is free to watch on Netflix, I decided to give it a watch. I thought I could pass some time as I journeyed down to Southampton on the weekend to see my family.
Plot
The film is a combination of both Sci-fi and Romance and so the plot is very strange but also fascinating. The protagonist Joel finds out that his ex-girlfriend has erased all memories of him using futuristic technology and so he decides to do the same. Their paths seem to intertwine again giving them a second chance at the relationship.
The film’s unique story is what separates it from other romances and warrants an 8.5/10 rating.
Acting
The film has a stacked cast with the likes of Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst and Mark Ruffalo all starring in it. We see Carrey in a role that is quite alien to him, compared with the plethora of Comedies he has appeared in, yet he carries out a very fitting performance.
Both Carrey and Winslet have fantastic chemistry between each other, which I found very enjoyable to watch and so I give them a 9/10 rating.
Characters
The film revolves around the romance between characters Joel and his ex-girlfriend Clementine. The two are polar opposites yet they find happiness in each others company. As the film progresses, we get a closer look into their true relationship and find out what their real personalities are.
I like the way the film was directed as it showed the progression of both characters in an intriguing way. Therefore, I give the film’s characters a rating of 8.5/10.
Dialogue
The dialogue in this film is very thoughtfully written and explores themes of love and relationships in depth. It was written by Charlie Kaufman, who has also written the scripts for Being John Malkovich and Adaptation.
The language in this film brought deeper issues in to play, that don’t usually take place in romances. The dialogue was thought provoking and interesting warranting an 8.5/10 rating.
Music
The music was composed by Jon Brion, who brings a quirkiness to the score. This unusual style of music gels perfectly with the manner of the film. From the very start of the film Brion’s music lets off a goofyness which is infectious.
I enjoyed the music in this movie. It wasn’t too melodramatic and gave off a playful weirdness, which paired with the film’s humour. Therefore, I give it an 8/10 rating.
I was happy with my choice of film for my train journey. It was off-centre compared with most generic romances, which kept me entertained whilst I ventured back home. The acting of Carrey and especially Winslet was great to watch and overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone needing to be entertained for a couple hours.