Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Clementine: Are you NUTS?
Joel: It’s been suggested.
When something ends up in a messy way, you plainly wish that it should never have happened, like a movie you should never have seen. When you go through a break up or a heart break, you wish you could just forget that person forever. One moment you are euphoric and because of one reason or the other, you start to hate each other. Doesn’t this happen often? Is it possible to really forget that one person and all the memories attached to her/him? How would it be, if this was possible? This movie, explores the possibility where you are given the chance of deleting that one person who, you believe, caused you all that grief & pain. So basically, it explores the two fantasies of the human mind, one, the ability to forget the whole thing, to wipe out the whole painful experience with that person away. The other, to start fresh with the same person as though nothing has happened.
Clementine: You’re not a stalker, or anything, right?
Joel: I’m not a stalker. YOU’RE the one that talked to me, remember?
Clementine: That is the oldest trick in the stalker book.
Joel: Really? There’s a stalker book? Great, I gotta read that one.
Plot:
A lonely guy and an impulsive girl strike a conversation in a train. Opposites attract is the law of cinema and thus there, their love story begins. They later break up and bump into each other very soon but by this time, Clementine had erased all her memories about Joel. She fails to recognize him and when he gets to know of this, he’s devastated and opts for same. While going through the memory erosion, he realizes that he was actually happy with her. But wakes up the next morning not remembering a thing about Clementine. Later they get to know that each got the other erased out of their memory. What they do after this, is how the movie ends. I have over confidence in the beauty of this movie that even if I reveal the story there is nothing one can understand without watching it. The experience of the viewer is something he/she would never have even imagined before …
Clementine: Wish me a happy Valentine’s Day when you call. That’d be… nice!
Screenplay:
It is bizarre; one would actually have to pay a lot of attention as to what is happening since we are dealing with the memories of Joel and also the affair between Clementine & Patrick and the Doctor and his employee. It is not linear, it follows the natural path of the memory of Joel. Though the movie is stated to be in the realms of sci-fi, its focus is on the mostly the emotions of the lead characters and the relationship they share. It is in reality, more of rom-com but unlike any you will ever see. You might feel a little good after watching it but once you start thinking about it, you will get to think about all the people in your life and your memories and how you have fought with someone and how you relate to them now.
Joel: I could die right now, Clem. I’m just… happy. I’ve never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.
Soundtrack:
Music dept. is very impressive and compliment the screenplay perfectly. There are a few Hindi songs which play in the background and I felt patriotic about them 
. Apart from that, Something, Keep on Looking and Everybody’s got to learn Sometime are real good. They might not be so interesting when heard otherwise but blend into the movie “perfectly”.
Clementine: You’re really nice… God, I have to stop saying that!
Acting:
Jim Carey’s role is nothing like he has ever done before. He’s not a dumb guy and there is no silly making fun of himself anywhere. He’s a practical middle-aged guy who believes that he repels women. Kate Winslet as the impulsive, free-spirited girl is sensational. Together, they do an extremely difficult task of adding life to this abstract story. They make it believable and give the performances of their lifetime. The other actors are also equally impressive. Jim Carey truly deserved an Oscar for his performance.
Joel: Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention
Final Verdict:
The film is “NICE”. I am stuck onto this word ever since I have seen this movie. At the risk of sounding clichéd and unimaginative, I declare that this is my “favorite movie and it is a masterpiece”. I have recommended it to everyone I know, and many did not like it but those who did like it, fell in love with it. Movies like this will never be made again and you should not miss out on this. A perfect entry to the list of movies to be seen before you die.
P.S. The name of the movie is taken from a poem of Alexander Pope and it goes like this:
“How happy is the blameless Vestal’s lot,
The world forgetting, by the world forgot;
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind,
Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned.”
P.P.S. Here’s the promo
This is a great review. Loved this movie myself. Easily one of the best movies of the entire decade.
What I really like is that as Joel’s mind is being erased his interactions with Clementine are only based on his memories/perceptions of her and how she would react. It’s hard to think that it isn’t actually her, but how he sees her.
Hi Roy. Glad you liked the review. The way he tries to protect her and also the whole concept of “eraser guys” is touching. Beautiful movie