"Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating."

-Joel Barish













Before I get into this film, I just need to say I knew nothing about this movie going into it besides the fact it was sort of a romantic-comedy. That's literally it and I'm glad I didn't know anything else about it. So unless you've seen this movie already, stop reading now! Drop what you're doing and go watch it. I give it my highest recommendation and implore everyone to check this movie out. Go in with as little information as possible and enjoy the ride. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!





















Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) discovers his ex-girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), who he is still in love with, has undergone a procedure to have all of her memories involving Joel erased. Now Joel is a complete stranger to her. Devastated, Joel decides to undergo the same procedure and have all of his memories of Clementine erased. That night, as the technicians erase his memories, Joel is trapped in his mind watching them disappear and he has to figure out if this is what he really wants. And even if he does change his mind, can he stop the procedure while trapped inside his own head?









What Works:





The story of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is utterly bizarre. There is no telling what is going to happen next and I found myself constantly wondering what was real and what wasn't. It's wholly engaging and utterly fascinating to watch as we move from memory to memory inside Joel's head. It's been awhile since I've been so completely engrossed in a film and it was a fantastic experience.





I love Jim Carrey. I think he's an extremely underrated dramatic actor and while he has some funny moments throughout this film, his performance is mostly dramatic. His reaction to discovering Clementine erased him from her memory is heartbreaking and his performance after he learns he had previously dated Clementine is fantastic. He's a great lead for this movie. He keeps us surprisingly grounded as we descend into madness.



