Every once in a while a film comes along which completely changes your mind on a certain actor, whether it be for positive or negative reasons. Either their performance was astounding, proving their ability to morph seamlessly into their role, or was so disappointing you’d rather not talk about it. Jim Carrey, known for his slapstick humour and numerous comedy stints in films such as ACE VENTURA, BRUCE ALMIGHTY and DUMB AND DUMBER, features as the shy, retiring Joel Barish in the 2004 science fiction drama ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND and, boy, did he exceed my expectations tenfold.
I remember exactly where I was when I was introduced to ETERNAL SUNSHINE – a media studies lesson at the end of term, circa 2008. It had previously been shown on Channel 4, but its concept and narrative chronology was too much for me to handle on a Sunday evening, so I changed the channel. How wrong and naive I was! As a reward for finishing our coursework (just proving how young I was back in 2008) we were allowed to move into a separate room to watch a film, picked out by our media teacher. From the moment Carrey appears on screen, accompanied by his voice over, I was hooked, and to see him take on such a different, serious, almost depressing role was a breath of fresh air for someone like myself used to his goofy facial expressions and vocal manipulations.
Carrey stars as Joel, an awkward, quiet man of little colour and vibrancy, content writing in his journal and “falling in love with every woman who gives him the least bit of attention”. On a chance trip out to the Charles River in Montauk, Joel bumps into Clementine (played by the wonderful Kate Winslet), an outgoing, sparkling example of positivity, rolled into a bright pullover hoodie and blue hair. As the pair start to get to know each other, all is not what it seems, as it’s revealed that the pair have known each other for much longer than was first thought. With the help of Lacuna Inc., a company founded on the concept of erasing painful memories, Clementine deletes her long relationship with Joel from her brain, leaving him hopeless and alone. Armed with this information, Joel visits the clinic and puts his name down for the procedure, with the film’s story told in reverse, starting with his most recent memories of Clementine, finishing when they first (originally) met.
Director Michel Gondry, known pre-ETERNAL SUNSHINE for music videos and documentaries, can now be known as a mind-blower – this film blew my mind. Due to the length of our lesson, we didn’t get to see the last 30 minutes, so I ran out that weekend and bought the first copy I could find, coercing my Jim Carrey-hating mother to sit and watch it with me because, in my words, “This isn’t the Jim Carrey you know”. What a way to start my 5-week summer holiday – discovering my favourite film EVER! Whenever someone asks the generic “What’s your favourite film?” question, ETERNAL SUNSHINE blurts straight out, followed by a 10 minute ear-bashing from me as to why they should watch it as soon as possible. But what makes it so special?
Firstly, Carrey and Winslet’s obvious on-screen chemistry. Convincing as lovers and fighters, it’s hard to believe that they aren’t playing a real-life couple, considering the way they bounce off each other. Through Joel’s memories we learn just how much they loved each other, while at other times they couldn’t stand the other. Their affection for each other, countered with the bickering and sniping, reflects the trials and tribulations of a real-life relationship, heightening the film’s believability. Joel’s shy, introverted nature contrasts greatly with Clementine’s bubbly, excitable demeanour, with her character type perfectly fitting the trope of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (the topic of my university dissertation, inspired by this film). Due to their chemistry the closing scene of the film – featuring the pair listening to their Lacuna Inc. tapes, discovering how they really felt about each other pre-erasing – breaks my heart every time, but the final, concluding seconds make everything better again (you’ll understand once you’ve seen it).
Gondry’s cinematography and special effects – astounding! It has been reported that a lot of the bizarre scenes and moments, seen through Joel’s memories, were created through old-fashioned camera techniques, editing styles and tricks created through props and sets. Digital manipulations were limited, giving the film a jarring sense of unreality, placing a very real relationship (and Charlie Kaufman’s Oscar-winning screenplay) in a dream-like world. Alongside Gondry’s visuals and Kaufman’s story, Jon Brion’s soundtrack is one of my all-time favourites. To partner with the unrealistic, sometimes uncomfortable visuals, Brion created a score featuring a mix of music, voices and effects that perfectly compliments what we see on screen, making it one of my most-listened to albums on iTunes.
However, what really makes ETERNAL SUNSHINE special is its message. With Joel slowly running out of memories, with his subconscious realising that not everything about his relationship with Clem was disastrous, he tries everything to cling onto whatever’s left. With everything else erased, Joel’s memory-self ends up back on the beach where he originally met Clementine, with the pair facing their futures without each other. Realising that everything will soon be deleted, Joel’s message to Clem is simple – enjoy it while it lasts. What better message to carry with you through life than that?
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