Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27926 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-25
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 103 minutes

DVD Description
FREE inside - award winning screenplay book

Special Features
Feature Commentary with Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman - A Conversation with Kate Winslet and Michel Gondry - A Conversation with Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry - A Look Inside Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Inside the mind of Michel Gondry - Deleted/ Extended Scenes - Anatomy of a Scene with Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry - The Polyphonic Spree "Light & Day" Music Video - Lacuna Infomercial

Synopsis
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND is an unconventional romance told in the abstract, inventive, and comedic storytelling style of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Like his scripts for ADAPTATION and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, this plot works off of a relatively complex idea that is easier explained through language of film than through words. In its most basic description, Joel (Jim Carrey) is undergoing a medical procedure to erase the memory of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet). However, while he is unconscious and the procedure is underway, he takes a journey through his mind, reliving moments with Clementine for fear of losing her forever. Using disjointed sound and action, foggy periods indicating Joel's confusion, and flashbacks to childhood where objects appear much bigger than they are to adult eyes, the cinematography communicates Joel's dilemma with visual hilarity. Only occasionally is the film laugh-out-loud funny; instead it is much more deeply and darkly amusing as the absurdity of the situation grows. ETERNAL SUNSHINE is nothing short of brilliant--a credit to director Michel Gondry (who has a topnotch reputation for his aesthetic music videos by artists such as Bjork). Carrey is wonderfully understated in the role of a simpleminded nice guy, and his signature goofiness is used only a handful of times. Winslet lights up the screen with her blue hair and orange sweatshirt, playing a lively free spirit and loose cannon. There are also strong supporting performances by Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo, along with an excellent score by Jon Brion and a peppy soundtrack including songs by E.L.O. and The Polyphonic Spree. The film's conclusion promises to satisfy viewers; it offers a beautiful metaphor for the end of a love affair that brings perfect closure to this excellent film.

Customer Reviews

exquisite mind game, not for casual moviegoers
Yeah, "Eternal Sunshine" is a mess, but what a sweet and beautiful mess it is. It might be quite a difficult watch for some, but ultimately rewarding if you invest enough time and patience to sit through. Somewhat reminiscent of an Andrei Tarkovsky, Wachowski Bros, David Lynch and Christopher Nolan film, our protagonist Joel bounces between twisting realities under a highly non-linear narrative structure.

As I always say, fragmented storytelling is not a cinch. Rather, it is a high-wire act. On the page, it might read well; but on the screen, if you don't put everything on proper places, you will run the risk of losing the viewer pretty quickly. Thankfully, that doesn't happen in "Eternal Sunshine" due to the magical touch of two talented mind-gamers: writer Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry, both like messing with expectations as well as human psyche. Take Kaufman's "Being John Malkovich", "Human Nature" and "Adaptation", you'll get what I mean.

The premise of the film is based on a breakthrough technique (Lacuna) to expunge unpleasant memories off people's brains. Being engaged in a flawed relationship destined to fail at the very beginning, Joel wakes up one day and finds Clem left him. He realizes that she had him erased from her memories. Love-torn, confused and enraged, he decides to do the very same thing rather than living with the pang of losing and missing her. Then when he trapped in sleep, we take up a pleasing albeit mind-bending journey into the depths of Joel's subconscious. We see their relationship within a time loop: in reverse-order flashbacks starting with the most painful memories of the breakup and working forward to the earlier, sweeter ones. But, as Joel relives his moments with Clem, he realizes that the good times he had with her are so precious to him. So he tries to put her into other parts of his memory so that she will never to totally forgotten.

Overall, "Eternal Sunshine" is an offbeat experience and definitely a triumph of romantic sci/fi subgenre. Highly recommended.

Astoundingly original
I had heard great things about this movie and when I finally saw it I was completely blown away. It's brilliantly inventive, with the idea of Joel (Jim Carrey) trying to erase the memory of his girlfriend (Kate Winslet) but his mind tries to stop him. There's much more to it than that but there's no point in spoiling it. This is one you can't really describe but you have to see it.

Carrey gives the performance of his career, and is far away from his more 'zany' roles like in Ace Ventura or Liar Liar. He is truly believable as Joel and Kate Winslet was also a revelation, with excellent chemistry between them. The support cast is also great, with Tom Wilkinson and Kirsten Dunst (I love her) particularly standing out.

It's definitely the best non-action film I've seen for a long time. I say 'non-action' because Eternal Sunshine doesn't really slot into a particular genre, with elements of comedy, drama, romance, sci-fi, fantasy all thrown in for good measure. But if there was a genre called 'Fantastic' then this would fit right in it!

Marvellous
Fantastic screenplay, with twists here and there in the plot. A highly imaginative film all round, which is also a very sincere study of relationships! Very natural and unpretentious acting.