Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

[Guest thebigjig]

speaking of Aviator... I really hope its good and Scorsese finally gets that Oscar he deserves. It's strange living in a world where Arnold S. is governor of California... and Martin Scorsese STILL hasn't gotten an Oscar... grrrr

 

 

anyway, I am pretty sure Sunshine is a wide release... it opened limited for a week or so before going wide. I live in a small town and we have NEVER gotten movies in limited release... fuck, even big budget movies like Gangs of New York and Big Fish got here three weeks late after opening everywhere elsem, and I saw Sunshine over the weekend

[2GOLD 0]

No, "Sunshine" is still very limited right now. At about 1,300 theaters.

 

It's a very arthouse style movie so they are taking that approach of slow build much like Monster and movies like that. It makes sense.

 

I think it expands to 2000 or so this weekend but I may be wrong.

[EricMM 0]

I really really liked it, but I guess I have only one question, besides the Montauk thing.

 

Did you think the ending was happy or sad?

[Guest OctoberBlood]

I really really liked it, but I guess I have only one question, besides the Montauk thing.

 

Did you think the ending was happy or sad?

Both in some ways, I guess. It kinda left it all up to the viewer to decide, which was great.

[EricMM 0]

Actually

 

*spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was wondering if people thought that they would be doomed to repeat the same conflicts and eventually break up again or be able to stick together.

 

I saw it with a girl and she was just sad after the movie, like all close to tears because she felt like it was sad that they would just end up breaking up again.

 

But I think it was like, he was willing to expose her to his most intimate and shameful aspects of his life in order to prevent her loss, THEN he was finally able to hide SOMETHING about her by leaving a memory and moving onto pure imagination. Something that he hadn't given the doctors in the beginning. He couldn't save her memory, but he could save something new? Maybe?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*END SPOILERS*

[Guest El Satanico]

No, "Sunshine" is still very limited right now. At about 1,300 theaters.

1300 screens isn't a full nationwide release, but it's far from "very limited".

[NoCalMike 0]

I really really liked it, but I guess I have only one question, besides the Montauk thing.

 

Did you think the ending was happy or sad?

Both in some ways, I guess. It kinda left it all up to the viewer to decide, which was great.

I agree with "Both" being a good answer.

 

Happy, because I think when they said, "fine" they were deciding to forget the more petty stuff and just realize that they would try and work it out. Add to the fact that Clementine getting the memory eraser the first time around was basically a quick jerk reaction to the near breakup because she was a "compulsive" person. Her knowing that after the fact(at the end of the movie) would prevent her likely from doing the same thing again, and maybe in the future they could work out their problems anyway.

 

I don't think when they originally broke up, that they would have lasted apart very long had Clementine not done the brain erase. I think they would have eventually worked out their problems which was really petty in the first place.

 

On the other hand the ending was also sad, because your relationship could never be the same or as pure as it was, AFTER THE FACT of knowing all these things from the past because of a tape recording, rather then your own memory.

 

The ending was conflict basically, pure conflict. I mean I left the theater feeling the hurt and pain of BOTH characters, and even while thinking they could POSSIBLY get back together and live happily etc......they would still probably ALWAYS carry with them a certain level of hurt because of what they now know happened in the past.

[MDH257 0]

I didn't think of it as sad at all.

 

Spoilers (Invisotext on)

 

I thought that both of them initally being angry about the tapes, but then coming back showed that they both realised they were in love with the other person and wanted to be with them inspite of the tapes showing them what they were getting themselves into.

 

(Invisotext off)

[Guest Vitamin X]

I'd like to join in the "I FUCKING LOVED THIS MOVIE!!" crowd. I was also stoked to see it, but as usual I don't subject myself to ANY review of ANY movie before I go see it, and see it for my own damn self first.

 

*SPOILER WARNING*

 

I also felt the pain and hurt of both characters, and immediately it had such an effect on it that I've started writing in my journal again, swearing to never forget things like that, no matter how painful or wonderful they are. And that's part of the message I got from the movie, was how having all those memories are so important, and they make us who we are, and to have the ability to have things you regret or that hurt you is in actuality a good thing, in a way. It makes you appreciate the times that are good.

 

Another subtle thing I loved about the movie, and it's shown in Kirsten Dunst's character with the professor as well as the main story between Joel and Clementine, is how no matter how many memories are erased, that the emotions are still there. I think that is part of what made it click so well in the beginning (which is chronologically after the rest of the movie) between those two, is how that love was still there, like when Joel makes the comment "Why do I always seem to fall in love with women who show the slightest bit of attraction to me?" while looking at Clementine. I was thinking later on, "Ah, that's because you WERE already in love with her, fool!!". Fucking great, flawless storytelling.

 

*END SPOILER WARNING*

 

I'm really really pissed that the closest theater to me that this is playing is about an hour and a half away.

 

Maybe it's just me and because I don't mind long drives, but if it's not going to be playing near you, IT IS WORTH THE DRIVE. GO SEE IT NOW.

 

According to Box Office Mojo, it had a Production Budget of $35 million and Marketing Costs of $10 million.

 

With movies coming out nowadays, I heard a sickening figure the other day that the average budget was well over $100 million in 2003. That is absolutely fucking sick! So look at what it cost to just get an awesome cast on board (Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, and Mark Ruffalo? Please!) and an amazing screenplay plus all the cool effects it took to make the movie. Well over half of what it's been making, and trust me there might be some movies that have a bigger gross, but outside of the Passion of the Christ (which got tons of free publicity) I can't see a movie posting a larger profit than this one for the year.

 

I wish women like Clementine were real...I really do.

 

So do I, Downhome. So do I.

[Ravenbomb 0]

So it's that good, huh? This movie's been getting Lost In Translation level reviews, I'll go see it hopefully.

[2GOLD 0]

I might see it if the damn thing would expand more. It added FOUR theaters...that's it???

 

That's just lame. Not to mention the theater near me was showing MYSTIC PIZZA for some god awful reason.

[Mole 0]

I saw this movie last night and it was amazing.

 

There is this kid in my english class and he always says how there hasn't been an orginal film in a long ass time. Well this is the most orginal film I've seen since Memento, and it might become my favorite movie.

 

Everything about it was amazing, I have to see it again to get "everything." Plus I loved the fact that some of the story was told in Montauk, which is 30 mins away from me.

[pochorenella 0]

I saw the movie last week and it truly deserves all the praise it's getting. It's That Damn Good . Maybe not my favorite movie ever, but still, Oscar-caliber performances from Carrey and Winslet. First Being John Malkovich, then Adaptation, now Eternal Sunshine..., this Kauffman dude can really write terriffic movies, huh?

[Guest Choken One]

So, I FINALLY got to see it.

 

Amazing. I'm speechless.

 

Jim Carey is indeed Amazing here as was Winslet.

 

I can't pimp this movie enoug.

[Downhome 0]

Wow.

 

When I created this thread, I honestly wasn't sure if many people would respond saying they loved it as much as I loved it. I'm very glad to see that I was totally wrong.

 

I can't wait for the DVD.

[NoCalMike 0]

Wow.

 

When I created this thread, I honestly wasn't sure if many people would respond saying they loved it as much as I loved it. I'm very glad to see that I was totally wrong.

 

I can't wait for the DVD.

you and me both DH....

[k thx 0]

Personally, the main reason I want to see it is because of the director/ co-writer Michel Gondry. For those of you who don't know, the guy is behind some of the greatest music videos of all time, including Bjorks best stuff and Foo Fighters' Everlong. I hope he gets some good recognition out of this.

 

Gondry's music videography

[2GOLD 0]

It's FINALLY playing in a theater near me.

 

I hope to see it either today or Saturday. One way or another, I will FINALLY get to see the role that might make Jim Carrey the second man to be up for best actor this year. Don't kind yourself, Mr. Frequency is the #1 with his portrayal of that Easter guy.

[Garth 0]

This films just been released in the UK, I'd heard very little about it except for a few trailers on the TV recently and remembering a few people on the board pimping out its greatness here and there. All I can say is WOW, it blew me away. Its coming up 24hrs since I saw it's kept me thinking since then. The story, the acting, everything about this film I loved. I'm even going as far as to see it again tommorow with a group of friends who I've convinced to see it.

 

Once the credits rolled the first thing i heard was "That was the biggest pile of shit I've ever seen" I must of had the biggest look of disgust on my face after I heard that. However I didn't let such a thing ruin the nigh on perfection of cinema i had just seen.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Well, you can count me in on all of the love for this movie. I thought that it was brillant.

 

Now in regards to the topic above if it ended on a happy or sad note,

 

Potential SPOILER

 

 

 

I left the theater feeling that it was a happy ending, along the lines of "it's better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all." I'm not really the type of person who projects the future after a movie ends. In other words, I don't particularly care if things ended up working out for the two lovers (I think that it would but that's neither here nor there). I think that the ending was Joel's way of saying that he didn't care if things didn't work out, that for how happy he had been it was worth any potential pain. The overall thing I took from the movie was that we'll all have painful moments and memories, but to have the pain, you must first have had overwhelming joy and that makes it worthwhile.

 

Sorry, that got a little long winded.

[ulfistgut 0]

Just saw it (again, just out in the UK) and really really enjoyed it (and for once it was a film where everyone I went with liked it - normally theres much debating).

 

Spoilerage (although given the amount on this page you'd have to be a fool to still be reading and trying not to be spoilt)

 

 

 

 

Happy ending, definately (well in my opinion ). Whilst it was sad that he lost the memories I felt that the idea (as others have expressed) that the persons feelings couldn't be wiped. And nor could the changes that Clementine had on him and the realisations he made whilst in his mind about the relationship. I got the impression that we were supposed to think that had it happened without the relationship before hand then Joel probably would have walked away early on.

I thought the whispering thing was suggesting that there was some form of important connection between the two (the whole meant to be together cliche). I read a theory that they perhaps may have been subconciously sharing the memory wipe process (although it takes the film in an odd direction) which was kinda fun.

 

So jeah, thought it was quite an upbeat 'overcoming a relationship crisis' film with a completely original idea and take behind it.

[Si82 0]

Just saw this film at the weekend (just got released here in the UK on Friday) and it was fantastic. The best film of the year and, now, one of my favourite films. The concept was very cool and I liked the way everything seemed to click at the end.

 

However, I was wondering if this film reminded anyone else of "Punch-Drunk Love"? I don't why maybe it was the fact that it was a low-key romance film that makes me think this way but they just seem to be similar.

[Guest Choken One]

No.

 

Punch Drunk Love was boring as hell.

 

ESOTSM was brilliance defined.

[Si82 0]

No.

 

Punch Drunk Love was boring as hell.

I really liked "Punch-Drunk Love", although a lot of people do seem to find the film very boring. I can undestand that, as it does move slowly, but I still feel it's a damn good film.

[Garth 0]

I've been trying my hardest since i saw the film to try and convince people to go see this movie, no one seems at all interested though its shocking. The lack of advertising isn't helping as about 95% of the people i've tried to talk to about it haven't heard of it. I think i've got about one person convinced to go see it and thats it.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Punch Drunk Love actually didn't make me want to shoot Adam Sandler. That's an amazing feat, really. I haven't had an opportunity to see this, yet.

[genius33 0]

thought i'd resurrect this thread with dvd details:

 

The film is due September 28 for a suggested price of $29.98. It will sport a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer with both English Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio.

 

Extras include an audio commentary with Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman, A Look Inside Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind featurette, A Conversation with Jim Carrey and director Michel Gondry featurette (this should be good), deleted scenes and a music video from Polyphonic Spree.

 

 

only bad thing is i saw boxart (not sure if its final) and the quote on the cover in huge letters talks about what a great funny comedy this is. completely false and its false advertising, they're promoting to the wrong type of people, people who loved along came polly will NOT get this movie. i loved it so much i ordered the screenplay and soundtrack off of amazon. its at my local dollar theater and i'm trying to get as many people as possible to see it!! if you have the chance SEE IT NOW!!!

[Downhome 0]

Thanks for the information genius33. I've got the screenplay and soundtrack also, and just can't get enough of this film. It still stands, without a doubt, as my personal favorite film of all time.

 

Pure perfection.

[Ravenbomb 0]

I'll Netflix it

[Garth 0]

I picked up the Soundtrack, but not the screenplay though. Its a real bastard its not released on DVD in the UK until November. I don't know if I can wait that long dammit.