While audiences think that they are being introduced to the two lovebirds when they first meet, as the story unfolds we learn that these two already have a history with one another - they just don't remember it. Instead, in a desperate attempt to never forget the love the two once shared, Joel races off with Clementine and takes her to the far corners of his mind in order to try to save whatever memories of their failed relationship he can before it's all gone for good.Ĭharlie Kaufman's screenplay is a weird, twisted love story that starts at the end rather than the beginning. Unfortunately, he's unconscious and already midway through the procedure when he comes to this realization, so he can't simply call the whole thing off. About halfway through the procedure though, Joel realizes that in order to forget the pain, he must forget the good times as well, and changes his mind about having his memory erased. Rather than forgive and forget, Joel decides simply to forget and undergoes the procedure himself. In "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," Carrey plays Joel Barish, a shy and gangly loner who is crushed to find out that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has literally erased him from her memory. Nevertheless, Universal is hoping that their end-of-the-year DVD release for "Eternal Sunshine" reminds Academy voters of Carrey's stellar performance and, for whatever the reason, "Eternal" finally brings Carrey home the gold. However, similar to 2004 nominees Bill Murray and Johnny Depp, the chance at the gold would be more of a "sorry we ignored you in the past" gesture than anything else, since Carrey's role as a hurt, lovestruck loser isn't any bit more memorable than Truman Burbank or Andy Kaufman.
After being ignored by the academy for "The Truman Show," "Man on the Moon" and even "The Majestic," Charlie Kaufman's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" could very well be the film that earns Jim Carrey that long overdue Oscar nomination.