Change of Mind

Jim Carrey has made boatloads of money by being a part of business-as-usual Hollywood, and for that I have rightfully despised him. But so desperate am I for something different that I overlooked Carrey’s starring role and rented Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as the third movie in my quest to watch 52 new (to me) films in 2005.

I doubt many people saw Eternal because Carrey was in it (and if they did they were probably disappointed and/or confused) and while Kate Winslet has a large following, I think the biggest draw for this film was the fact that Charlie Kauffman wrote the script. Kauffman was coming off the Oscar nomination for his (and his brother’s?) script for Adaptation. I know it’s why I wanted to see it.

The story is extremely original and well-written. Briefly, it’s the story of a man who has any memory of his former girlfriend erased from his mind (because she had the same done with her memories of him). Mid-way through the process, as his brain goes through his memories while they are being removed (including the good ones he had not considered when signing up for the erasing), he changes his mind (so to speak) and must fight to save some memory of the girlfriend. How’s that for something different?

Since I had already expected an interesting plot, what really surprised me was the acting. Somebody finally, finally, finally didn’t just let Jim Carrey be wacky ol’ Jim Carrey. I actually feel bad that the guy didn’t get an Oscar nomination. I thought that Kate Winslet was exceptionally good, though the only other movie I’ve seen her in was the titanically bad Titanic. She rightfully has been nominated for Best Actress this year.

[And speaking of  Oscar snubs, Beck definitely should have been nominated for his remake of the Korgis' song "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" that runs through Eternal. Maybe it could have gotten the nomination wasted on the Counting Crows' godawful "Accidentally in Love" from Shrek 2.]

God, did I really like a Jim Carrey movie? I haven’t felt this way since having to admit that Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith, both of whom I also cannot stand, were great in their supporting roles in Nobody’s Fool. Yes, Bruce Willis is in one of my all-time favorite films. Ugh.

Next up is De-Lovely, with Kevin Kline starring in a musical-style biography of Cole Porter.

Comments

[dragonballyee]

I looooved Eternal Sunshine. I love seeing a small handful of totally refreshing films each year and that was definitely one of them last year. I'm glad you liked it as well.

[Sam]

I also loved Eternal Sunshine. I think its definetly one of the best movies I have watched in a long time. I liked the fact that the entire movie was recursive...like "12 Monkeys".

[Mark]

Look, I can barely stand that I enjoy Willis in Nobody's Fool. I don't care how interesting 12 Monkeys sounds (and it does) or that it was shot in Philly, it's going to take a bit for me to put Willis on my queue!

[Dimmy Karras]

The Oscar "Best Song" category has been an enigma for years, consistently overlooking the good songs from movies in favor of various pieces of crap. The Academy should probably just stick to movies.

I will second the comment that 12 Monkeys is worth watching.

[m]

I tried--desperately, mind you--to watch Eternal Sunshine. Twice. (Insert incoherent sobbing here.)

On another note--I noticed you're reading the Wilco book. Have you seen the documentary "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Amazing film.