"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" How can a Movie so Hopeful End so Drab?


     Look, I've heard of this film countless of times, I feel like it's definitely been used as an episode title by Dan Harmon whether it's in Community or Rick and Morty, definitely Rick and Morty. Sadly though, I never had the pleasure of watching it until I finally decided to watch it when I heard perennial homewrecker Ariana Grande would be naming her latest album after this film, I finally decided I had had enough, it was time to see what all the fuss would be about. After finally viewing this film with my sister, I have to admit, it's pretty good, but I can see why it's not up there with all the other rom-coms, and there's one reason for that.

    It's not feel-good, this film oddly enough does not make you feel good, even if it has a hopeful ending. It distinctly reminds me of Pursuit of Happyness in the sense that yes it does end on a good note, but you don't get to feel good, you don't feel that hopeful, you're just told that's what happens, and that's it. And that's ok, I think for that film, it can be intentional, and you understand why. I mean sure I'm a hopeful person, I would have loved to leave this film thinking about the enduring power of love, and how it can manifest and grow even if someone has dug up the roots where it once lay, but at the same time, that's not how the people feel.

    Joel and Clementine don't feel super hopeful at the end of the film, sure they start again, but Clementine is crying, it's a difficult climb, and the world feels so colourless and lifeless because it was, a piece of them was erased, they feel lost, like a piece of them is missing, so the world is off, it doesn't shine like it should when you're truly in love, because you lost that piece of you that did love. That's personally how I see the general lack of pop this film has, and that's how I sort of explain the lack of hope audiences feel even after the film basically hits you over the head with the fact that they do indeed get back together. 

    In terms of structure, you stay kind of confused, especially as Joel and Clementine retrace all the steps, but eventually you do piece everything together, and the realization both my sister and I had when we finally figured out Patrick's role in all of this was great. Though frankly, did this movie even need all the other side characters? I'm not saying I disliked them, though Patrick really was a perv, but how necessary were they to show how unethical this entire mind-wiping business is? Like the whole old doctor young secretary thing was honestly kind of bizarre, and it feels pretty yucky, same thing with Patrick who is honestly kind of rapey with how he's basically taking advantage of Clementine, though I guess it's there to explain just how scummy this business can get.

Final Score: 80/100

    I'm impressed, this film is poignant. While it didn't make me cry I can definitely say I'm glad it ended on the hopeful note that love perseveres despite all. I was afraid they were just going to let both characters walk away, and it was going to be a movie about properly letting go, just not having it erased, so I'm glad they went this route. While I'm not sure why everyone loves referencing it because it's not exactly that positive of a movie, I can definitely say I'm glad it's become a cult classic.

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