Thursday, March 29, 2007

A Values-Maturing Film

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, released in 2004, features lead roles by Jim Carey and Kate Winslet. Their characters, Joel and Clementine, make an odd match as their personalities are complete opposite from each other. Joel is a socially awkward character who spends much time inside his own head and writing in his journal. Clementine is a quarky, open book who expresses herself through the color of her hair. The relationship comes to an end, or so it seems, after two years.

Unlike most girls who cuddle up to two other men, Ben & Jerry, when a relationship ends, Clementine opts to visit a business called Lacuna Inc., which specializes in memory erasure. When Joel finds out that Clem erased every memory she ever had of him, he decides to get the procedure done as well. The majority of the movie follows Joel's subconscious as his memories of Clem are pulled away from him, one by one.

One of the most creative aspects presented is Joel's ability to manipulate his memories while revisiting them in his mind. Througout the procedure, Joel changes the endings to some of his memories, drags Clem into memories of his childhood where she doesn't belong, and narrates old memories with current opinions and reflections. In the process, Joel's subconscous becomes distressed and regrets the procedure, attempting to keep snip-its of Clem from vanishing.

This is just a quick summary of the movie. Before my blogs become more in-depth, I encourage you to please see the movie ASAP. Consider it an obligation to yourself to examine the value you put on both good and bad experiences, memory, individuality, relationships, and the complexity of the human mind. Then remember to come back to comment. Tell me what your first impressions are of the movie, and for those of you who have already seen it, let me know where it ranks on your list of Favorites.