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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

  • 2004
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.1M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
281
70
Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
7 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomanceSci-Fi

When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories for ever.When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories for ever.When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories for ever.

  • Director
    • Michel Gondry
  • Writers
    • Charlie Kaufman
    • Michel Gondry
    • Pierre Bismuth
  • Stars
    • Jim Carrey
    • Kate Winslet
    • Tom Wilkinson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    1.1M
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    281
    70
    • Director
      • Michel Gondry
    • Writers
      • Charlie Kaufman
      • Michel Gondry
      • Pierre Bismuth
    • Stars
      • Jim Carrey
      • Kate Winslet
      • Tom Wilkinson
    • 2KUser reviews
    • 308Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #94
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 73 wins & 111 nominations total

    Videos7

    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    Sarah Chalke on Why 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' Changed Her Life
    Clip 0:22
    Watch Sarah Chalke on Why 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' Changed Her Life
    Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    Clip 1:33
    Watch Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    What Roles Has Mark Ruffalo Been Considered For?
    Clip 3:07
    Watch What Roles Has Mark Ruffalo Been Considered For?
    'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:33
    Watch 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' | Anniversary Mashup
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Feb. 13 - Joel Erases Clementine
    Video 2:18
    Watch Dates in Movie & TV History: Feb. 13 - Joel Erases Clementine

    Photos173

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, and Michel Gondry in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey
    • Joel Barish
    Kate Winslet
    Kate Winslet
    • Clementine Kruczynski
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • Dr. Mierzwiak
    Gerry Robert Byrne
    Gerry Robert Byrne
    • Train Conductor
    Elijah Wood
    Elijah Wood
    • Patrick
    Thomas Jay Ryan
    Thomas Jay Ryan
    • Frank
    Mark Ruffalo
    Mark Ruffalo
    • Stan
    Jane Adams
    Jane Adams
    • Carrie
    David Cross
    David Cross
    • Rob
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Mary
    Ryan Whitney
    • Young Joel
    Debbon Ayer
    Debbon Ayer
    • Joel's Mother
    Amir Ali Said
    Amir Ali Said
    • Young Bully
    Brian Price
    • Young Bully
    Paulie Litt
    Paulie Litt
    • Young Bully
    • (as Paul Litowski)
    Josh Flitter
    Josh Flitter
    • Young Bully
    Lola Daehler
    Lola Daehler
    • Young Clementine
    Deirdre O'Connell
    Deirdre O'Connell
    • Hollis
    • Director
      • Michel Gondry
    • Writers
      • Charlie Kaufman
      • Michel Gondry
      • Pierre Bismuth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite the fact that Charlie Kaufman's script and Michel Gondry's visual concepts were closely followed, the cast members were allowed many chances to improvise. Elijah Wood and Mark Ruffalo improvised extensively, and much of the dialogue between Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet resulted from videotaped rehearsal sessions, during which, the two became close by sharing tales of their real-life relationships and heartbreaks.
    • Goofs
      Many of the continuity errors listed here may well be deliberate. In the DVD extras, the movie makers explain that they played with the continuity to underline the struggle between the doctor and technicians trying to erase the memories and Joel trying to hold on to them.
    • Quotes

      Clementine: This is it, Joel. It's going to be gone soon.

      Joel: I know.

      Clementine: What do we do?

      Joel: Enjoy it.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits don't begin until about twenty minutes into the film and after much action and plot.
    • Connections
      Featured in A Look Inside 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime
      Written by James Warren

      Performed by Beck

      Beck appears courtesy of Geffen Records

      Produced by Beck and Jon Brion

    User reviews2K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    an modern artistic triumph for all involved
    Michel Gondry, credited as the director and co-writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is only partly responsible for the success that the film achieves. He implements a awe-inspiring blend of style to a story that is perfectly non-linear. But then there is also the madman genius of the current screen writing plane- Charlie Kaufman- who has written three of the most ingenious, funny, and human of "little" Hollywood movies (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).

    He understands, and perhaps likely experienced to a degree, what a relationship holds to- the truth, to understanding, and then when it ends, how out memory changes the relationship. Enter in the concept that makes 'Eternal Sunshine' something of a un-official science fiction film - the Lacuna corporation, led by Tom Wilkinson's character, can erase just one person out of your memory, all of the experiences that you and the significant other had. So, when Joel (Jim Carrey) goes in to erase his memory of Clementine (Kate Winslet) after finding out she did just the same, he enters into a mind-warp. He goes through memories they had, happy ones, sad ones, some that are just what makes up what you have emotionally with the one you've loved. And sometimes, and to the behest of the assistants of Lacuna (Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo), Joel doesn't want them all to be erased.

    As I mentioned, the plot is non-linear, which could've gone the wrong way if not done with skill. With a film like 21 Grams, which has a talented director and cast, the non-linear structure isn't necessary. But it's an asset that the story doesn't start from A to Z. To assist Gondry with this, he has the extraordinary Ellen Kuras as DP and Valdís Óskarsdóttir, an editor from Iceland. Their collaboration is crucial with Gondry and Kaufman (and co-writer Pierre Bismuth), as they bring all of these un-real images a real quality. Quite simply, there isn't a finer example of surrealism crossbred with realism in any other American film so far this year. The usage of lights, cuts, and with the kinds of special effects not expected (i.e. no CGI), add to the effect it has on a viewer. That the characters of Joel and Clementine are as enveloping as they are is also a credit to Kaufman.

    But then there's one more part that completes the success of the film - the acting. Jim Carrey, very simply, is at his very best. He finds a balance from certain scenes in being like people we see everyday, feeling low, not much of interest, inward. And then when the memory erases begin, we get to see him act funny, but not like the kind of humor he brought with Ace Ventura or Dumb and Dumber. This is Carrey knowing this character just well enough to play off his counterpart, played by Winslet. She, meanwhile, is perhaps at her best. Her character is eccentric, funny, insightful, and wanting. She pulls it off. As do the supporting actors.

    There's not much more I can say about this film, except to say that even after seeing it three times, I feel like I could watch it over and over and see a new shot, a new sequence, and new set of emotions tied to things. It's one of the great romantic dramedies of the decade.
    helpful•411
    85
    • Quinoa1984
    • Oct 27, 2004

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    FAQ31

    • How long is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" based on a book?
    • Where can I find the script? What's that version I find on the web?
    • What does Clementine sniff on the train, near the beginning?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 2004 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • ahotoffer
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Eterno resplandor de una mente sin recuerdos
    • Filming locations
      • Montauk, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • Anonymous Content
      • This Is That Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,400,301
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,175,198
      • Mar 21, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $73,387,734
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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