Film Review: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
So, upon my LJ friends' recommendation, echoed by two local friends' recommendations, I went ahead and bought the DVD to watch the film. As Ray put it, "you're going to want to own it."
My review:
Overall, somewhere between 'meh' and 'okay.' My overarching problem with the film is that I felt no emotional connection to the characters or their story, even though it was certainly well done. I also feel that I need to share some onset bias about Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey was the primary reason it's taken me 3 years and strong recommendations from trusted sources for me to watch this film. Though I found his acting in this film to be more palatable than most his films, he nevertheless failed to convince me that he was the character Joel, nearly as much as Jim Carrey acting as the character Joel. In that regard, Kate Winslet was head & shoulders better than Jim Carrey by totally subsuming her public persona and bringing her character, Clementine, to the fore. Dare I say it, but no matter how hard he tries, Carrey just can't act (though on balance, he has done better in this film than he's done in the past, or most of the Hollywood set). Funnily enough, I found the same shortcoming in Kirsten Dunst's acting of Mary-Jane, oh sorry, Mary.
I guess, one relevant test for me, if in failing to feel an emotional connection to the characters, is if I at least feel a shock of recognition...something done so incredibly well in Being John Malkovich - both in the physical appearance of Cameron Diaz, and the despicable motives and emotion of John Cusack's character. I think BJM was a better effort by Charlie Kaufman than ESotSM.
On top of the problem of these actors presenting their characters, I had the added difficulty of believing these characters actually ever coming together into a long-term relationship...I just couldn't believe it.
As for the science fictional concept of Lacuna presented - I'm glad that Hollywood finally used it in a romantic-dramatic context, but I nevertheless had a continual Total Recall itch in the background of my mind.
Am I happy to own this film - no. Am I contented, yes. All in all, this is no Before Sunset - an infinitely superior relationship film from 2004.
---
So to you lot on my FList, I expect you'll label me heretic for writing this, but there, I wrote it.
My review:
Overall, somewhere between 'meh' and 'okay.' My overarching problem with the film is that I felt no emotional connection to the characters or their story, even though it was certainly well done. I also feel that I need to share some onset bias about Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey was the primary reason it's taken me 3 years and strong recommendations from trusted sources for me to watch this film. Though I found his acting in this film to be more palatable than most his films, he nevertheless failed to convince me that he was the character Joel, nearly as much as Jim Carrey acting as the character Joel. In that regard, Kate Winslet was head & shoulders better than Jim Carrey by totally subsuming her public persona and bringing her character, Clementine, to the fore. Dare I say it, but no matter how hard he tries, Carrey just can't act (though on balance, he has done better in this film than he's done in the past, or most of the Hollywood set). Funnily enough, I found the same shortcoming in Kirsten Dunst's acting of Mary-Jane, oh sorry, Mary.
I guess, one relevant test for me, if in failing to feel an emotional connection to the characters, is if I at least feel a shock of recognition...something done so incredibly well in Being John Malkovich - both in the physical appearance of Cameron Diaz, and the despicable motives and emotion of John Cusack's character. I think BJM was a better effort by Charlie Kaufman than ESotSM.
On top of the problem of these actors presenting their characters, I had the added difficulty of believing these characters actually ever coming together into a long-term relationship...I just couldn't believe it.
As for the science fictional concept of Lacuna presented - I'm glad that Hollywood finally used it in a romantic-dramatic context, but I nevertheless had a continual Total Recall itch in the background of my mind.
Am I happy to own this film - no. Am I contented, yes. All in all, this is no Before Sunset - an infinitely superior relationship film from 2004.
---
So to you lot on my FList, I expect you'll label me heretic for writing this, but there, I wrote it.