Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 220
Fresh: 205 | Rotten: 15
Propelled by Charlie Kaufman's smart, imaginative script and Michel Gondry's equally daring directorial touch, Eternal Sunshine is a twisty yet heartfelt look at relationships and heartache.
Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 46
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 5
Propelled by Charlie Kaufman's smart, imaginative script and Michel Gondry's equally daring directorial touch, Eternal Sunshine is a twisty yet heartfelt look at relationships and heartache.
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Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 559,949
Movie Info
The second feature from director Michel Gondry (Human Nature) finds the filmmaker reteaming with screenwriter Charlie Kaufman for this off-the-wall romantic comedy. Jim Carrey stars as Joel Barish, a man who is informed that his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has had her memories of their relationship erased from her brain via an experimental procedure performed by Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson). Not to be outdone, Joel decides to have the same procedure done to himself. As Mierzwiak's
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Cast
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Jim Carrey
Joel Barish -
Kate Winslet
Clementine Kruczynsk... -
Tom Wilkinson
Dr. Howard Mierzwiak -
Mark Ruffalo
Stan -
Kirsten Dunst
Mary -
Elijah Wood
Patrick -
Jane Adams (II)
Carrie -
David Cross
Rob -
Deirdre O'Connell
Hollis -
Debbon Ayer
Joel's Mother -
Thomas Jay Ryan
Frank -
Brian Price
Young Bully -
Gerry Robert Byrne
Train Conductor -
Amir Ali Said
Young Bully -
Paul Litowsky
Young Bully -
Josh Flitter
Young Bully -
Lola Daehler
Young Clementine -
Ryan Whitney
Young Joel
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All Critics (220) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (205) | Rotten (15) | DVD (51)
Works marvel after marvel in expressing the bewildering beauty and existential horror of being trapped inside one's own addled mind, and in allegorising the self-preserving amnesia of a broken but hopeful heart.
Top CriticIt's the kind of film that could mean more to people after they've left the theater and thought about it awhile.
There is little charm in the coupling and almost no erotic intimacy, just a series of nerve-racking conversational collisions.
The disappointment I felt at the end of Eternal Sunshine was almost crushing, simply because there were sections of it that were as daring in their emotional directness as anything I've seen in years.
[Kaufman] clearly surpasses himself.
Neither wholly cynical nor wholly romantic, Kaufman's story is a balance of smarts and sentiment.
Imaginative, loopy romance is for adults only.
Michel Gondry tries to channel Fellini and ends up irrigating faulty plumbing.
This is a wonderful, often beautiful, and melancholy character study of romance, humanity, and the mind with wonderful acting, incredible surrealism and a funny and heart-wrenching story.
The film entertains for the most part and gives us a set of marvellous performances from this outstanding cast, even if it doesn't quite reach the near-genius of Kaufman's other writings.
Most imaginative and impressively executed...
Kaufman and Gondry bring out all the weirdness of the premise, sometimes eliciting disbelieving laughter, sometimes taking us to odd, chilly places.
Walking into a theater with Charlie Kaufman on the screen is like volunteering for that wacky boat trip Willy Wonka took through the chocolate factory tunnel...
The reality is that Hollywood is such an idea poor place Kaufman tends to get more credit than he deserves for work which only occasionally rises above the level of mind games and showy sleight of hand.
Eternal Sunshine is fresh, heartfelt and ultimately heartbreaking in its honest portrayal of a modern relationship.
It is an enchanting clutter of love and reason that will only appeal to the audience willing to take the time to see the movie and then think about it later.
A unique deconstruction of man's innate desire to avert heartache.
The kind of movie that only gets better the more you think about it and I think it cries out for repeat viewings.
You won't soon forget this walk down memory lane. Actually, make that a RUN down memory lane.
Odd but compelling; one of the year's 10 best
like in the best sci-fi, it's primarily a metaphor for a deeper dilemma: the question of whether or not we'd really be better off eliminating heartbreak from our lives.
Most Hollywood films tell us we have everything we need within ourselves. [This movie] indicates that we need each other, even ... when togetherness disrupts happiness.
...aligned with the Nietzschean idea that we are doomed to be ourselves, that the "eternal recurrence of the same" has a gravitational pull on our hearts.
An unusual one but a great one, it will have you asking questions about the true nature of love for some time afterwards.
Without a connection to the central relationship, all of Kaufman's musings and Gondry's visual frills would be for naught, but... it all fits into place.
Audience Reviews for Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Super Reviewer
This film is thought-provoking, I believe primarily for critics and film insiders. I just didn't enjoy it. Here's a key statement: "I wish I'd stayed, I wish I'd done a lot of things." He's got regrets, so do we all. As painful as life's memories can be, I'm glad I have them. This type of technology would be wrong.
Super Reviewer
Movies Like Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
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- Joel Barish: Why do I fall in love with every woman I see that shows me the least bit of attention?
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- Joel Barish: I remember that speech really well.
- Clementine Kruczynski: I had you pegged, didn't I?
- Joel Barish: You had the whole human race pegged.
- Patrick: Hmmm. Probably
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- Clementine Kruczynski: Remember me. Try your best. Maybe we can.
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- Mary: Adults are, like, this mess of sadness and phobias.
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- Clementine Kruczynski: This is it, Joel. It's going to be gone soon.
- Joel Barish: I know.
- Clementine Kruczynski: What do we do?
- Joel Barish: Enjoy it.
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- Mary: Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| What was your reaction? | 59 days ago | 3 |
| This movie rocks | 3 months ago | 1 |
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Foreign Titles
- Vergiss mein nicht! (DE)
- Eterno resplandor de una mente sin recuerdos (ES)
After their tumultuous relationship ends, Clementine decides to undergo a radical procedure wherein her memories of her ex Joel are erased . Upon learning she did this, Joel decides to do the same, but, during the middle of the process, Joel realizes he still loves her, and can't bring himself to let her go.
This is a really touching and deep film. It left me feeling a little depressed, but even then, it's still poignant and really well done. The Oscar-winning screenplay by Charlie Kaufman really shines. The wonderfully creative direction and editing are amazing as well. I just love the mix of in-camera and post production tricks to bring the story to life. The films is big on ideas, specifically their ramifications, and the ethics of them as well, and I really wish more films, but especially romantic ones, would follow suit.
The cast is simply spectacular. This is one of the best films of both Carrey and Winslet. And backing them are a top notch ensemble of Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom WIlkinson in major parts. Nobody gives a bad performance here, but, this is easily the Carrey and Winslet show. The characters are neat, well conceived, and enjoyable to watch interact with one another.
All in all, this is a real masterpiece. I could have used a little more blatant levity, but that's a minor thing. Definitely see this one if you haven't, because it is indeed worth the praise and admiration.