A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Date of original theatrical release: 2004

Details:

Jim Carrey (Joel Barish)

Kate Winslet (Clementine Kruczynski)

Elijah Wood (Patrick)

Mark Ruffalo (Stan)

Kirsten Dunst (Mary)

Director: Michel Gondry

Score: 1/2

The Review: An odd, time-fractured love story with a science fiction theme.

Science fiction is often advertised as literature of the imagination, a literature where the consequences of ideas can be explored in addition to the ideas themselves. "What if?" has been a typical starting point, as well as "What if this continues...?" Eternal Sunshine is an unusual science fiction film in that it doesn't market itself as such, it doesn't come across as such, and even to an afficinado it may not be recognizable. But science fiction it is, and moderately well done at that. An invention is posited, it becomes a quiet but living part of a small metropolitan sub-society, something that no one seems all that surprised about (only us, the audience), and then it fades into the background as we watch its impact on two individuals. The invention is not totally ignored -- after all, we see it in operation, and we see its operators and their misdeeds, and in the DVD version, we even see a TV-advert for it -- but what takes the fore is the effect of its existence, the consequences of its application and use. And therein it becomes a strangely compelling drama.

In one sense, this can be recast in the theme of an alternate universe: there's something about the background of newly acquainted friends Joel's (Carrey) and Clementine's (Winslet) world that rings odd, but it's not until we see the form-letter from Lacuna Inc that the difference clicks. For reasons that are initially obscure, she has decided to erase all memory of him; in retaliation, he reciprocates. What ensues is a near-hallucinogenic trip down memory lane, except at times it's a superhighway and at others a dark and twisted mountain path, but always with the flavor of an historical novel thrown into a Cuisinart blender. There seem to be clues about the time-lines, and it seems as if it might be possible to reassemble the sequence, but it is incredibly difficult -- I probably tumbled to the correct puzzle configuration at the same time most of the viewing audience did. In retrospect, it's this puzzle aspect that sticks with you, and makes this film grow on you in a positive sense.

For those of you who cannot stomach Jim Carrey's typical over-the-top approach to humor, worry not -- this is neither a comedy (although it has some amusing moments) nor a typical Carrey situation. Decent (if decidedly bizarre) supporting roles by Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst and Mark Ruffalo.

(6-Nov-05)

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