Forget You!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Review by Ross Anthony

From the mind of Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich" "Human Nature" "Adaptation"), comes a film about neverminding.

What if (via a scientific procedure) you had the power to literally/physically erase someone or something from your memory? Perhaps an abusive father, a dog you miss, a stormy romance. In this film, Charlie (ever mused by "what if") writes a story of two lovers too quick to toss away memories, indiscriminate of the painful or fulfilling nature of those memories.

Kaufman spins this yarn with engaging twists, a skillful build and a double-turn conclusion. Even if you see the first resolve coming, you might not see the second. As with all of Kaufman's scripts, Sunshine's light emits from a playful supply of mind-acrobatics. A thinking-viewer's film and full of strong performances from a talented well known cast. In the first twenty minutes of the film, Carrey is absolutely dead on as the nervous introvert (isn't that some fun irony?). All of the characters are quirky and interesting; you want to know more how they fit together in this puzzle. Kaufman layers character relationships (inside and outside the main circle) well, with one exception. I think this film goes one entanglement too far. That entanglement and the realization thereof, actually distract from the momentum of the film.

Whereas many films are eye-candy, Sunshine is mind-candy. Occasionally, the play on memories chills. Occasionally, the film pulls other various emotions from the viewer, but essentially, this is mind-candy. Like a good crossword puzzle, an impressive maze, a challenging game of chess, fantastic while it lasts, completely engaging; but afterwards? Will you remember that game of chess the next day (even without erasure?) I love Charlie Kaufman's stuff -- he's awesome, but I challenge him to write something that engages my mind and my heart equally, and dare I say -- my soul?

This is a very strong B+, perhaps one heart-filled moment away from a must see.



  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Copyright © 2004.
  • Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Gerry Robert Byrne, Elija Wood, Thomas Jay Rayn, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Adams, David Cross, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson.
  • Directed by Michel Gondry.
  • Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman.
  • Produced by Steve Golin, Anthony Bregman at anonymous content/focus release.



Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4)



Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 08:12:00 PDT