Almost There: Jim Carrey in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Monday, August 24, 2020 at 6:00PM 
Before writing this piece, the last time I'd watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was with my now ex-boyfriend. We were at his home, enjoying what was, by then, a rare respite, a valley of peace between mountains of quarrel. I had gained a habit of showing him my favorite films, sharing those beloved treasures with someone I loved, maybe looking for a different way for him to know me. This Michel Gondry surrealistic comedy was one of the few pictures we both seemed to adore, and I remember how, drunk with affection, I swore to never forget him. Even if things ended badly – which they did – the promise was made that I'd never wish to erase him from my memory, from my life. Regardless of the hurt we brought each other, I still think that. What we shared is now an integral part of me and that won't ever change.
The people we share our lives with become pieces in the puzzle of our identity. To love is to reshape that puzzle, pain, and euphoria slotted together. I tell you this because it's impossible for me to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Jim Carrey's performance, without projecting meanings born out of love lost…
The film opens rather inconspicuously. A man wakes up, alone. He's Joel Barish played by Jim Carrey, an introvert that's closer to the real deal than the charming facsimiles we tend to see in movies. His narration weaves a tapestry of apathy, perhaps even depression, while his behavior speaks of someone jolted by an unexpected need to flee. At the train station, he jumps on transport to Montauk. There, in the freezing seaside, Joel meets a woman with a shock of blue hair. She's Kate Winslet's Clementine, his opposite in every conceivable way. Extroverted, afraid of silence, she's like a freight train colliding with the palace of solitude in which Joel lives. She collapses his barriers, tears them apart.
In no time, they're spending a night together. Not in sexual exploration, but whimsical travels, a sojourn through a frozen lake that Joel later claims to be one of the best nights of his life. Carrey, an actor used to comedic posturing, leaves those funny masks at home and delivers the line with utmost sincerity. We believe him. However, just as the twee romance starts to gain potency, the film abruptly cuts to a tearstained close-up of our protagonist, alone again. It turns out, the first meeting we saw wasn't the first. Joel and Clementine had met before, fallen in and out of love before. Bruised by heartbreak and guided by her impulsive nature, she erased him from her mind. Now, he's doing the same.
The main story of the film thus happens inside Joel's head as he starts fighting the fantastic medical procedure that will forever rid him of Clementine. Initially, we can see why both of them made the choice to forget. As we witness their relationship backward and Joel relives it along the way, we became acquainted with the bitterness of romance in its final days. Neither performer hides their characters' sharp edges or how curdled their resentments have become. They avoid sugarcoating their abrasive quality and never underplay the cruelty with which these two hurt each other. Even as he implodes in paroxysms of awkwardness and social anxiety, Carrey can add an acidic expression that underlines Joel's toxicity.
I've seen that condescending smile he wears when Clementine talks about motherhood. I've felt its burn sear off the top layer of my skin like hot lava. It's an asshole's move to avoid vulnerability, a shield of irony that hides one's soft belly from the claws of their beloved. I've even done it myself, so I'm well familiar with its effects. Still, it's painful to forget. All cruelties have a reflection of wonderment. If not, they (I) wouldn't try to make it work. Erasing the bad times implies departing with the good. Nothing lasts forever, after all, and to face that end can be one of the most abrasive experiences in one's life. To be aware of the ending as it unfolds, knowing you brought it upon yourself but powerless to delay its finality… that's hell.
Fittingly, Carrey performs Joel's despair to the hilt, making him out to be a man going through a lucid nightmare. When later recollections fade and only the early days of the relationship remain, his desperation gains more feeling. His regard towards Clementine also mutates, losing its edge. He's falling for her again and, as he knows her less, he loves her more. Even in its most romantic passages, the film hides a razor blade ready to stab the viewer. It's a kiss with a punch. It's drowning, like when Joel opens his eyes and Carrey plays the moment like he's suffocating, searching for air and finding none.
Defeated by the procedure's conclusion, Joel knows he'll forget so he's just enjoying the last whispers of knowledge. Goodbye Clementine, he says with his teary eyes, his rueful smile, and newfound softness. They may have been terrible, but they meant the world to each other at some point. Losing that is painful, but, when there's nothing to do, we can just savor the sweet remembrance as it all melts into nothingness. The way Jim Carrey plays the hopeless hopefulness of the picture's very end is even more extraordinary. It's an actor trying to make emotional sense of an impossible situation and miraculously succeeding.
All that being said, it's important to talk a bit more about how Carrey and Winslet work with and play off each other.
Seemingly, they switch their usual approaches to screen acting. He's peeling layers of raw emotion, using dramatics as a scalpel to eviscerate Joel. She's pulling faces, creating self-aware layers of whimsy. Carrey's more characteristic shtick only manifests at a point when identity and memory fold into each other. When, hiding in childhood memories, kid and grown-up share screen time and a single body. For a breath, he's pointedly cartoonish, matching Winslet's more abstract versions of Clementine. Two wildly different ways of building characters, emotional realism versus conceptual comedy, both valid when separate and devastating when together. They fit, but it's never seamless, the tension between them as felt their electric chemistry. It's the sort of thing that's riveting to watch in the movies, but hellish to live through.
While I love the film and the Golden Globes did nominate him, it's impossible to argue that Jim Carrey was sixth in the voting for the Best Actor Oscar of 2004. That spot was reserved for Paul Giamatti in Sideways. Maybe Carrey was an unlucky seventh since his movie did score two important nods and a win. However, Liam Neeson was also in the running with Kinsey as was Javier Bardem for the Oscar-winning Sea Inside. In the end, AMPAS nominated Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator, Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby, and, the winner, Jamie Foxx in Ray. For a year rich with extraordinary performances, the Academy's chosen five are surprisingly lackluster. Carrey outperforms them all.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is newly available to stream on Netflix.
Reader Comments (28)
Fab film and fab perf. I completely agree: Carrey is better than all the Best Actor nominees that year, it’s really a pity Academy never took him, if you can say it, seriously
I think this is one of the best things you've written so far,spot on.
This is one of the loveliest pieces of film writing I've had the pleasure of reading. Thank you for sharing such a personal perspective on such a great film and performance.
Good piece, well written. I also love this movie, for everything in the human heart that it has insight to
However, I absolutely disagree with the final assessment. I have always been of the belief that Carrey is the embodiment of Hitchcock's harsh assessment of "actors are cattle". He is someone that a great director and good script can utliise. Not to say that the performance is bad, it serves the story well, but every single one of the actual nominees of the year, plus the two or three that you mentioned that just fell short, gave a more thorough and independent performance than Carrey.
Even with one of my most perfect, favourite movies of all time, THE TRUMAN SHOW, I assess that to be the triumph of the director and writer. And even within that, performers like Ed Harris and Laura Linney know what to bring to their characters, and it is hard to imagine others in those roles. But, for me, Carrey was clay waiting to be moulded by Peter Weir.
I would describe Carrey as a solid actor, and a good comedian (if his stylet is your type of humour). But nothing I have seen him do drivers me towards regarding him as Oscar-nomination worthy.
Good piece, well written. I also love this movie, for everything in the human heart that it has insight to
However, I absolutely disagree with the final assessment. I have always been of the belief that Carrey is the embodiment of Hitchcock's harsh assessment of "actors are cattle". He is someone that a great director and good script can utliise. Not to say that the performance is bad, it serves the story well, but every single one of the actual nominees of the year, plus the two or three that you mentioned that just fell short, gave a more thorough and independent performance than Carrey.
Even with one of my most perfect, favourite movies of all time, THE TRUMAN SHOW, I assess that to be the triumph of the director and writer. And even within that, performers like Ed Harris and Laura Linney know what to bring to their characters, and it is hard to imagine others in those roles. But, for me, Carrey was clay waiting to be moulded by Peter Weir.
I would describe Carrey as a solid actor, and a good comedian (if his stylet is your type of humour). But nothing I have seen him do drivers me towards regarding him as Oscar-nomination worthy.
Ugh, get Johnny Depp outta there and Jim Carrey in! Such a beautiful performance that plays to all of Carrey's strengths while also showing a lot of restraint and listening. His chemistry with Winslet feels lived in, real, and crackling which makes it SO devastating when it takes a turn. I love this movie and it gets better with every single viewing.
I disagree, 2004 has a great lineup. I suppose Depp is the weakest but I would go for Giamatti as the alternative.
"Let me keep this one. Just this one." When he begs to remember the memory of Clementine my heart always breaks a little.
If you wanna make me mad, remind me that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind got fewer nominations than Finding Neverland. It's one of those rare movies where everyone is working at or near the peak of their powers. It was before Kauffman's head disappeared up his own ass. Watching Winslet in full command of her charisma and Carrey's more furtive, but no less moving, explorations of his own talent... just superb. Carrey's line readings of "I wish I'd stayed..." gah. And then the final beats as they hear each other's tapes.
What a masterpiece.
Love this performance and once again a beautiful write up Claudio
The "I wish you had stayed. I wish I had stayed too." scene always devastates me. It always reminds me of those moments that at the time seem so inconsequential or so black and white but looking back are so ridiculously important and so complex and so meaningful. This is one of my favorite movies I've ever seen.
This is a gorgeous post. Thanks, Claudio.
In my life as an Oscar watcher I don't think I've ever fully gotten over the twin snubs of Carrey and Giamatti this year. My Ballot would look like this:
1. Giamatti - Sideways
2. Carrey - Eternal Sunshine
3. Hawke - Before Sunset
4. Cruise - Collateral
5. Cheadle - Rwanda
Unfortunately, I think Carrey was probably way behind Giamatti, Neeson, and Bardem. Winslet seemed to suck all of the air out the room with this one, which I found a bit surprising because as good as she is, Clementine ultimately didn’t seem like much of a stretch for her. I think this is the best Jim Carrey has ever been. Just heartbreaking, but swings easily with the ever shifting tone of the film. Eastwood aside (I think he’s stellar in Million Dollar Baby), that final lineup is indeed lackluster, especially when you have Carrey and Neeson both doing surprising, career-peaking work.
Also, shout out to Kirsten Dunst. “I’ve loved you for a very long time.” That’s all.
Jim Carrey gave a career-defining performance in that film. I also liked the fact that him and Kate Winslet chose to do something different with their performances. Carrey is often known for his comedy and Winslet for her drama as they were like "let's switch" and I think it showed not just more range from them but also a freedom into the performances they gave. They were on their A game and then some. Carrey was able to be funny but it is proof that he's a great dramatic actor. He should've won the Oscar. Sorry Jamie Foxx.
I like Carrey in serious roles and this is one of his best, but the competition was tough, maybe Depp was the weakest.
My top 10:
1.Paul Giamati (Sideways)
2.Javier Bardem (Mar adentro)
3.Jamie Foxx (Ray)
4.Bruno Ganz (Downfall)
5.Leonardo Di Caprio (The aviator)
6.Liam Neeson (Kinsey)
7.Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda)
8.Clint Eastwood (Million dollar baby)
9.Jim Carrey (Eternal...)
10.Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland)
This is easily the best performance he has ever given and he should have won for this role!
In the last 2 months and a half, I've been Jim Carrey's character, trying to understand why I lasted 15 months in a relationship with my german boyfriends and why I shouldn't ever have started the relationship with them, feeling used and abused and trying to overcome the fact that I almost left everything behind for a couple that was, quite obviously, showing me off as a trophy and never had real intention of sharing their lives with me. Or that's what I feel now. I really wish I could erase them from my memory and just keep a warning to never go back, close to them.
This film captured so well that feeling of being haunted by memories you wish you could just erase.
2004 in Leading Actor and Actress is so very strong that, while I love Carrey, Foxx, Cheadle and Winslet... none of them even make my Top 10s (Moreno does) - my ballots -
Actor
1) Paddy Considine - Dead Man's Shoes
2) Kevin Bacon - The Woodsman
3) Bruno Ganz - Downfall
4) Gael Garcia Bernal - Bad Education
5) Nikolaj Lie Kaas - Brothers
Actress
1) Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake
2) Nicole Kidman - Birth
3) Valeria Bruni Tedeschi - 5x2
4) Mirella Pascual - Whisky
5) Natalie Press - My Summer Of Love
Also, BAFTAs got it right that year — Eternal Sunshine was nominated for Best Actor, Director, Picture, with Winslet double-nommed for this and Neverland.
One of my all-time favorite films and it only gets better on repeat viewings. I have to echo the other commenters with the "I wish I'd stayed" line -- GAH heartbreaking. Carrey is magnificent as is the whole cast - Dunst, Wilkinson, Ruffalo. Can't believe some of the actors who got in over him (Depp in Finding Neverland</I>? UGHH) especially with all the traction Winslet got. She's great but Carrey is totally her equal. Super competitive year in Best Actor.
This was such an incredible performance, and my absolute favorite Male Lead. That performance came from a place I had never suspected Carrey even possessed. My favorite Female Lead was Julie Delpy in Before Sunset. It was depressing and frustrating that they were both just barely in the conversation, but ignored for their brilliant performances in favor of performers not nearly at their level (Depp, Sandino Moreno). Too bad this has turned into an annual event.
This post was fascinating, as is all writing about this movie. You know the way every once in awhile you find yourself reacting to a movie in such a way that you simply can't understand how everyone else is reacting the opposite? That was this film: I found it unwatchable and left the theatre. I recently tried to watch it again on Netflix and lasted a half hour...
dtsf -- i find all writing about this movie fascinating, too, albeit in a different way since i really love the movie. I think it's such a roscharch test of a movie for people. It strikes them in such personal ways. One of my all time favourite episodes of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was on this movie. Lots of great articles.
ken -- it really is sad how unimaginative awards voters often are. Whatever is the period drama or the traditional drama will always be ">" than any more experimental genre mix in their eyes. Which is sad because i think it's much more difficult to pull off great performances in high-wire movies.
Watched this with my mother-in-law recently, who was seeing it for the first time, and she started crying during the cutaway shot of the woman who visits Lacuna because her dog died.
Love the personal note to this piece - I don't know if you found it hard to write, but you really channel the exquisitely bittersweet spirit of the movie.
This may be my favorite Carrey performance. (I also find Kirsten Dunst's character/storyline heartbreaking, though she doesn't get talked about as much.)
Paranoid Android - I’d totally forgotten about that. How heartbreaking - and a testament to the emotional authenticity packed into every nook and cranny of this masterpiece.
Carrey lays it all on the line in this film and it sucks that he wasn’t rewarded with a nomination. Winslet gives one of my 5 favorite performances of all time. And Dunst works wonders with her role.
I interned with Michel Gondry in the summer of 2004, after the movie’s release but before the Oscars. Remember the film opened in March, which probably cost him dearly at the Oscars.
I was in awe of Michel Gondry, such a simple man, deeply flawed which I couldn’t understand (don’t you have to be emotionally stable to have enough insights to direct this movie?), intuitivaly creative... it didn’t make sense to me that this masterpiece could have come out of someone so erratic. But I guess all geniuses are.
I watched the Oscars months later and couldn’t believe it didn’t receive more love. But I noticed Kate Winslet’s cheers every time the movie was mentionned, and her absolute joy when it won for screenplay, it was so obvious she LOVED this movie so much more than Neverland.
I suspect you could ask every crew and actor who worked on this film and you’ll find that they’ll remember it as their best work and fondest memory.
Thanks for taking me back to that time :)
I completely agree with you. 2004 lineup was indeed lackluster aside from Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda. Jim Carrey in my opinion was the best leading actor performance of 2004 in my honest opinion. Jim's spectacular performance in Eternal Sunshine was subtle, poignant, nuanced and extremely beautiful. The gentleman who said that other actors in the category gave more thorough performances here has unfortunately no idea what they are talking about. They probably think that being either way too bland or way too showy is good acting. I would have definitely not nominated DiCaprio or Depp or Eastwood or Foxx. My choices would have been Bruno Ganz for Downfall, Paul Giamatti for Sideways, Javier Bardem in The Sea Inside, Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda and Jim in Eternal Sunshine. And Jim would be my pick for winner. I saw someone mentioning Tom Cruise in Collateral and I completely agree but it's a supporting performance. Tom Cruise not only gets a nomination but a second Oscar win for Collateral in Supporting Actor category in my perfect world and ideal world as well.