![]() ![]() Once on set, the actors had to learn how to do things the Gondry way. “Then I believed her when she said it was a great project.” “I was really surprised by her honesty,” Gondry said. Gondry, for his part, remembered knowing Winslet was exactly right for the part of the kooky, bewigged Clementine because she was the only person unafraid to give notes on Kaufman’s script. (Morgan’s rep says the comedian doesn’t remember if he acted in the film.) But “the reality is he was Tracy Morgan”-which made his presence a bit of a distraction. “He’s a comedic genius,” said Gondry-“ Genius!” Carrey emphasized. A post- S.N.L., pre- 30 Rock Tracy Morgan, for example, played Joel’s neighbor in a few flashbacks that did not make the finished film. But it took a lot of tweaking for the film to arrive where it did-which also meant that several scenes featuring notable bit players were left on the cutting-room floor. ![]() With its homespun sci-fi aesthetic, aided by Gondry’s nifty, lo-fi special effects and lived-in romanticism, Eternal Sunshine was a quietly mind-blowing film, the kind that spawned plenty of thin imitators. (Kaufman’s rep didn’t respond when we asked to comment on this story.) ![]() But both ideas were ultimately scrapped-and Gondry’s relatively happy ending won out instead. Gondry-who was sitting next to Carrey-added that the screenwriter also considered flipping the narrative, revealing at the end that the story has been taking place in Clementine’s head the whole time. ![]() I walk away,” Carrey said in a recent phone interview. “We don’t end up together in Charlie’s version. By the end of the film, they’re drawn together again anyway, willfully ignoring the fact that their relationship may very well crash and burn once more. The Oscar-winning film follows ex-couple Joel and Clementine ( Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) as they undergo procedures to erase one another from their respective memories, with much of the story taking place in Joel’s subconscious. Truly awesome.Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- Michel Gondry’s instant classic of a sci-fi romance, written by Charlie Kaufman, which debuted 15 years ago-originally had a much darker ending. This film is a challenge, but those who rise to it will be richly rewarded. Beautifully acted (Jim Carrey is better than I would have ever expected him to be, and Kate Winslet equals him in every way), imaginatively directed, exquisitely written, and boldly designed and shot. And love - and our lovers - can never be removed from our psyches, no mater how much we may sometimes wish it all could be. Despite the arty cinematic methods used by Gondry (which will either astound you or irritate you, depending on your tastes), there is nothing highbrow or inaccessible about the story's message: love is worth experiencing, even when it's difficult or painful or imperfect. But this is an extraordinary film, and it deserves the fulll investment of attention and emotional engagement that it demands. I realize that the unconventional means of storytelling employed in this film won't be everybody's cup of tea many viewers don't want to have to think too much or feel too much when watching a movie. But this is an extraordinary film, and it deserves In a word: breathtaking. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |