Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman’s neo-classic film, ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) is truly one for the ages that holds up on many rewatches. This is a trepidatious look into someone’s mind and the history they have with others around them, while also battling grief and regret. I can promise you that this is not the most accessible film for a general audience though, and for a common movie goer, this might be a bit much. But over the twenty years since it was released, a following has really latched onto this picture, and for good reason. This is a smart and talent filled movie that proves a lot of notions about relationships and cinema. 

‘Scenes From A Marriage’ (1974), ‘Revolutionary Road’ (2008), ‘Blue Valentine’ (2010), ‘Her’ (2013), and ‘Marriage Story’ (2019). There have been plenty, and I mean plenty of films about heart break, and the struggle of relationships falling apart. None have been quite like ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) though. We get to see a different perspective of how some might attempt to move on from a relationship, even if the techie is other worldly. We get the classic hashing out between the leads, and we also get the classic romantic interlude from the start. However, this is still just a strangely different approach, with such an interesting outcome. i 

Though ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) tends to fall into a list of people’s heart break cinema, it still is a truly darkly humorous movie. There are moments throughout where if you didn’t stop and think too hard about what was being shown, it would come off as very funny. Yet there is still a deeper meaning stirring underneath each joke. The humor is relatively dry, and you need to work at it sometimes to understand it, but that often just makes it even funnier. I appreciate the melding of both genres, and how Kaufman knows when and where to insert a good laugh. This is the tricky stuff to pull off that doesn’t always work, but in the hands of a master like Kaufman, it really shows on the screen.

Not only is ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) a great dark comedy with deeply dramatic elements covering, it is also a contemporary sci-fi film. I never really understood how to play that out in this film, because this is not the type of sci-fi we all think about. There isn’t a bombastic laser show, or complex spaceships. Instead, the movie takes place in a contemporaneous suburban neighborhood, that might look similar to yours or mine. The art of making a new technology in this film is where the science fiction aspect comes to play. Being able to erase memories is the end goal, and the fact that we see how the technology is still new and it’s flawed and it doesn’t run perfectly, makes for it to be viewed in an even more real light. 

Jim Carrey stars across Kate Winslet in ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) and both actors put in some of their greatest performances. Carrey, of course is known for his work all around the comedy field. His kinetic and physical comedy is one in a trillion. When he manages to tone it down for a dramatic role like this though, it shows how serious of an actor he really is. Winslet also performs something very different that none of us are used to seeing from here. This role is not her typical posh and regal character, but she still plays it to fantastic extent either way. Having these two very different actors come together to play roles they are not used to playing makes this film only so much better for its creativity and dynamic depth.

Charlie Kaufman will always stand as one of the most complex and deeply understanding screen writers of all time. His work on films like ‘Being John Malkovich’ (1999), ‘Adaptation’ (2002), ‘Synecdoche, New York’ (2008), and ‘I’m Thinking Of Ending Things’ (2020) only prove his craftsmanship. Whether Kaufman is writing his own original martial, adapting from a book, or even directing his writing himself, he manages to make all the words turn to gold. ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) is by far one of his best works, even though all his other films you could say the same. The man understands dynamics most of us would never even dream of knowing. So Kaufman proves that sometimes a great writer is more important than a great director. 

I can understand if some audience members shy away from wanting to see a complex sci-fi film about erasing memories, but it’s clear to me that this movie really still is loved. Rightfully so, because this is just a gem of a film that has more to say about human frailty, while also delivering some fantastic acting. This is not the easiest film to gallivant witch, and knowing that Kaufman is behind the writing, it makes sense. However, I do promise that ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’ (2004) truly is as amazing as everyone says, and there is no doubt about that.