Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Review

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..........Wow.

Minutes after finishing Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I was truly lost on how to comprehend it. I was truly blown away by the acting, the screenplay, the scope; it is a film which is hard to understand, but once you do, you'll love it.

The movie is about a couple, Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) who believe they are meeting for the first time on a train to Montauk. Let me just put it simply: it is NOT the first time they've met. They've met before, they've been in love, and they broke up, and they both decided  to go through a heartbreaking procedure, erasing their memories of each other. As Clementine meet each other again, she does get an eerie sense of deja vu; howeer, they both laugh it off.

Most of the film takes place in Joel's mind; during the course of the film, he begins to change his mind about changing his mind, and he tries to hide Clementine in parts of his conscious where she didn't exist before. These memories include embarrassing parts of his childhood, experiences of bullying, and places they've never been to before. While his memories have been erased of her, a profound part of his still creates his feelings for her, leaving him in a truly confused state.

Flashbacks show why they didn't work out as a couple in the first place. Clementine was an extrovert, showing that quality by being exceedingly impulsive and adventurous; Joel could not have been any different from her. Both Carrey's and Winslet's portrayals work wonderfully together, creating a dynamic that is impossible not to watch, and they have chemistry that is impossible not to admire. However, just like any real-life couple, they do have their petty arguments, and these leads to their break-up, sparking the events of the film.

In real time, Stan (Mark Ruffalo)  and Patrick (Elijah Wood), the company's erasers, work to erase Joel's memories. They both get wasted, and struggle with Joel's unexpected resistance to the procedure. It doesn't help that they get wasted, and Stan ends up calling his girlfriend Mary (also their co-worker, played by Kirsten Dunst). Patrick on the other hand, leaves to visit his girlfriend, who as irony decides, is Clementine. Patrick, using his knowledge of Joel's memories, tries to seduce Clementine by imitating him. Joel, in his mind, struggles not to get Clementine erased, as they embark through various memories. This is the "science fiction" section of the movie, and it is easy to see why. Joel's resistance leads Stan to call his boss, Dr Howard Mierzwiak, (Tom Wilkinson), for help. Some unexpected plot twists and drama drive the rest of the film, which eventually leads Mary to leak the company's confidential files to all the clients whose memories have been erased, including Joel and Clementine.

They are both confused when they listen to these tapes; Joel is shocked and hurt at what Clementine said about him, (she felt as if he changed her into a person she despised), and Clementine feels the same way (Joel basically stopped short of calling her a slut). Regardless, they decide to give their relationship another go, and the film therefore ends on a happy note.

This film, is amazing, and it continues to astound me even as I write about it. Jim Carrey once again proves his dramatic acting chops, and he is excellent in a thankless role, showing depth and ability which I never would've expected, as I am accustomed to seeing his dumber comedies. Kate Winslet, in an Oscar-nominated performance, is also brilliant, masterfully showing why Joel (and the viewers, in the process), would fall in love with her performance. The most lauded aspect of the film is the screenplay, brilliantly written by the talent Charlie Kufman, who won a much deserved Oscar for it. The technical aspects also provide a smooth transition for the plot, and the direction by Michael Gondry also managed to dazzle me, as it avoids the head-ache inducing direction of Inception. While the film is a masterpiece, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, as its philosophical themes require a certain maturity on the viewer's part.

Score: 5/5.

Edward Scissorhands Review

 Edward Scissorhands, in my opinion, is one of Tim Burton's finest films. It stars Johnny Depp in one of his first film performances, and he gives perhaps his greatest performance.

The story basically goes like this: it's about a young man named Edward, who just happens to have scissors for hands. His creator (whom he refers to as his father), was a lonely genius who wanted to build himself a son. Before getting to finish his project, he has a heart attack, and he dies. So now Edward is left by himself, as an oddity in a mansion many in the neighborhood believe to be haunted.

A cosmetics saleswoman from Avon named Peg Boggs one day decides to go up to this mansion. The mansion, despite being darkly gloomy in a gothic-sort of way, does not bog down her enthusiasm. Upon meeting Edward for the first time, Peg realizes that he is actually a gentle and sensitive person, who doesn't mean any harm to any one. So, she decides to take him home to her family, who are all pretty tolerant. Her husband and son are actually pretty kind and respectful towards him, but it is when the daughter Kim enters the film, is when the story really starts to unfold.

The neighbors of this family are basically gossipy and bored middle-aged housewives, who are surprisingly rather curious and interested in Edward. He happens to have many talents which excite them, including cutting bushes in a fantastic shape, cutting their pets' hair, and also cutting the hair of the ladies themselves. Later in the film though, they are not as respective of him.

Edward also has to deal with several conflicted feelings; he feels grateful towards Peg, and he falls in love with her daughter, but he has problems expressing either of them. His obvious interest in Kim leads to several altercations and misunderstandings with Kim's douchebag of a boyfriend Jim (Anthony Michael Hall, playing strongly against type), one incident in particular ending Edward up in questioning with the police. All of the actors are in extremely fine form; Winona Ryder is great in the role of Kim, bringing the much needed charm which makes us understand what draws Edward to her; Dianne Wiest as Peg also gives a great performance, showing kindness and empathy, and later regret and guilt in an amazing manner.

But the best performance of all is given by Depp; he is so subtle and emotionally honest, that he makes Edward likable, sympathetic and watchable all at once. Depp actually doesn't have that many lines, which just enhances the power of the mystery of the man. This is the movie which established Johnny Depp as a leading man, and it's really easy to see why.

This is a great movie, and I basically loved everything about it. On the other hand, I was a bit let down by the ending, which I felt could have been far more powerful and satisfactory. The movie is still brilliant, and it is a must watch.

Score : 4.5/5

The Station Agent Movie Review

The Station Agent is a 2003 comedy-drama about  3 people who learn to share their insecurities with each other, as they learn to truly embrace their flaws as the qualities that make them unique. They become friends, and it is a truly moving experience. 

The main character of the film is the dwarf Finbar McBride (played by Peter Dinklage in his breakout performance). He thinks his life is fully set for him: he works at a model train shop with his only friend Henry. He is an introvert; people tend to treat him differently wherever he goes, and it is something that really irks him. He shuns all types of socializing and has gotten used to the way people treat him. But then, Henry literally drops dead one day in the store, and Fin learns that his friend left him some land at a train depot in the rural area of Newfoundland, New Jersey. Fin decides to move there immediately, seeking a life of solitude. However, an enthusiastic Cuban- American named Joe (played brilliantly by Bobby Canavale) decides to befriend Fin due to his own loneliness in the secluded area. Joe is extroverted and open to a fault and seems incapable of being rejected. Fin's life consists of mainly walking around, watching trains, and frequenting grocery stores and libraries where he still gets treated differently. On one of his walks back home, he ends being almost run over twice by a woman named Olivia (played by Patricia Clarkson). These scenes would have been comedic in almost every other film, but in this one, it actually serves the story. As it turns out, Olivia is an artist mourning the death of her son who died too young. The three form a strong friendship which gets threatened by some unexpected circumstances. Fin also meets two other people: a librarian named Emily (Michelle Williams), who is immediately drawn to him; and Cleo, a young girl who shares his interest in trains. She is curious about Fin's physical condition, and he also doesn't mind answering her questions about it. With Emily, Fin realizes that not all other humans are as judgmental as the ones he's become accustomed to and that friendship and romance may actually be possible for him.

The film moves at a slow pace, jut like life. However, it works masterfully; every actor is able to show an amazing transition from the beginning to the end of the film. The film mainly has conversations that move the plot along, as the characters reveal more about themselves to each other. Peter Dinklage is excellent in the film, and it really is no wonder to me why he was discovered for this film. He leads the film better than most actors and actually elevates the film. Patricia Clarkson is also extremely good with her subtle performance and helps drive the plot well with Dinklage. Bobby Canavale plays Joe as eagerness and enthusiasm personified, and he does an excellent job with a role which might have been played easily in an over-the-top manner. 

The Station Agent is an excellent film about these 3 people. It runs for only 90 minutes, which gives us all the sense that we were only allowed to see into these characters' lives for a brief period. As I watched people, I didn't feel like watching actors perform, but rather, real people go along with their lives. To me, that is a remarkable achievement. I definitely recommend this film for everyone.

Score: 4.5/5