Barnes & Noble

It's not surprising that one of 2004’s best films fell through the cracks on its theatrical release. It is a tough sell: too oblique and serious for the Jim Carrey fans who propelled Bruce Almighty to blockbuster success, too freighted with Carrey’s goofball butt-talking baggage to lure in art house denizens. Yet, if they give it a chance, it's hard to imagine anyone in either camp failing to enjoy this funny, thoughtful meditation on true love, obsession, and destiny from the combined genius of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) and music-video auteur Michel Gondry. Carrey plays Joel Barish, a quiet, sensitive guy who finds out his emotional, free-spirited girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet), has undergone a procedure to entirely erase him from her memory. Heartbroken and spiteful, Joel visits Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) and demands to have the same procedure done to him. With Joel sedated and hooked up to a computer, Mierzwiak's assistants (Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, and Kirsten Dunst) begin zapping away the memories of Joel and Clementine's relationship, one by one. Aware of the procedure while it's happening, Joel relives his relationship with Clementine and realizes he doesn't want to forget. His attempts to hide Clementine in the deeper recesses of his psyche provide endless opportunities for Gondry to show off his astounding visual flair. Eschewing computer-generated gimmickry, Gondy uses old-fashioned camera tricks -- forced perspective, rear projection, miniatures -- to depict Joel's memories as they decay around him. It may take a second viewing to really appreciate all that's going on. But all this eye candy would be nothing without the brilliant script from Kaufman that adds genuine heart to his already established meta-humor abilities. Winslet is as good as we've come to expect, but Carrey's nuanced, subdued performance will be a surprise to almost everyone. He's got a future in drama -- if his fans will stand for it. This is not a perfect film. It's at times too arty for its own good, and a crucial subplot involving Dr. Mierzwiak and his crew should have been given more attention. These are minor quibbles, though. Flaws and all, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an unforgettable cinematic experience. Bill Pearis

All Movie Guide

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 bumbling underlings Stan (Mark Ruffalo) and Patrick (Elijah Wood) perform the operation on Joel -- over the course of an evening, in his apartment -- Joel struggles in his own mind to save the memories of Clementine from being deleted. Kirsten Dunst, David Cross, and Jane Adams also star. Matthew Tobey

Entertainment Weekly

Watching Eternal Sunshine, you don't just watch a love story -- you fall in love with what love really is. Owen Gleiberman

Slate

This is the best movie I've seen in a decade. For once it's no hyperbole to say, "Unforgettable!" David Edelstein

Product Details

• UPC: 065935827054
• Source: ALLIANCE CANADA
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Dubbed
• Time: 1:48:00
• Sales Rank: 32,161