Jim Carrey’s Best Drama Is Ironically Being Forgotten
By now, we know that Jim Carrey has on more than one occasion dived into the method acting deep-end, and that raises one very important question. Did he actually undergo a memory erasure procedure to prepare for his role as Joel Barrish in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or did he just read the script and go for it? It’s unfortunate for me to report that our favorite funny-man’s best dramatic role (and it’s not even close) is, like Joel’s Memory, slowly becoming a thing of the past, as it’s not currently available through a streaming subscription.
A Stranger’s Just Someone That You’ve Forgotten
At face-value, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a complicated movie, but its execution and pacing make it so easy to digest that you’re able to focus on the emotions it’s supposed to make you feel rather than its narrative.
We’re introduced to Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), who learns that his ex-girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), has undergone a procedure to erase their relationship, and by extension, his existence, from her memory.
Devastated by this level of rejection, Joel decides he’d like to forget about Clementine as well, and seeks out Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), so he can undergo the same procedure.
I’ve Been Erased From The Picture
If this initial conflict in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind isn’t enough for you (have you no heart?), it gets a little more complicated. After rounding up every single photo, note, and memento that reminds him of Clementine, Joel gets put under so Dr. Mierzwiak, and his two technicians, Patrick (Elijah Wood) and Stan (Mark Ruffalo) can begin the procedure. Joel’s memories of Clementine begin to fade away as he’s re-experiencing them through his dream-like state, and he realizes that the pain of forgetting about her entirely is a fate worse than their initial falling out.
As each memory collapses around him, he holds on for dear life because there’s no way for him to reverse the procedure, or let the doctor know he’s changed his mind.
Joel knows that when he wakes up, all will be forgotten, and he’ll move on with his life. But a life without even his memories of Clementine seems unbearable to him.
Walk Into The Light
Stunning cinematography and brilliant acting aside, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of those movies that aggressively makes you feel nostalgic for feelings you may not have necessarily had yourself. Everybody experiences heartbreak at some point in their lives, but Joel’s solitary odyssey through his own mind forces the viewer to experience his loss in real time as he realizes how the saying “it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” has more than earned its keep as an effective platitude.
As each cherished memory unravels and dissipates before Joel’s very eyes, you can’t help but hope that he has the mental fortitude to hold onto at least one image of Clementine’s face before she’s gone forever.
What Brought You Back To This Place?
If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you’re missing out on witnessing Jim Carrey at the absolute top of his game as Joel. There’s not a single frame in this movie where you don’t feel empathy for the guy who is so hurt by Clementines’ decision to erase him from her memory that he uncharacteristically acts on an irreversible impulse that he then immediately regrets. Through the multiple layers of abstraction that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind requires you to sift through, you get a love story so profound that it has never since been replicated in way that’s so relatable on so many levels.
Meet Me In Montauk
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Ironically, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind isn’t available to view on streaming, which consequently will make this movie a distant memory in its own right. But if there’s any movie that’s worth a few bucks for a rental, it’s this one. As of this writing, you can purchase the title on demand through Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango At Home.
