This is, by far, the best work that Jim Carrey has EVER done; even better than "The Truman Show." Also turning in a rather fabulous performance is one of my favorite actresses, the marvelous Kate Winslet. Charlie Kauffman once again proves his brilliance in this, zany, eccentric, and undeniably sweet romantic comedy-sci fi-thing. The film begins at the end, one of the brilliances of it, so my review may prove to be confusing, but one of the films' many strengths is the way that it takes sucha complicated idea and make it easy-to-follow without being simple or shallow. Here goes nothin': Jim Carrey boards a train and meets Kate Winslet, and they sprak a relationship. Then the film goes forward (or backward?) in time to where he and she broke up. While attempting to win back Winslet's Clementine, Carrey's Joel realizes that there's something fishy going on. Led by her friends to a company that erases minds called Lacuna (Brilliant, isn't it), used primarily for bad relationships. Joel decides to have the same done, but begins second guessung himself as they start the procedure. And that's only the beginning. We then go inside Joel's mind, where a conscious version of himself desperately tries two things to keep them from erasing Clementine forever: 1. Wake himself up or 2. Hide her in memories that they'd never think to look in. *BREATH* Isn't that positively labyrinthine? And as that story continues and we learn more about Joel's early life, we learn that the relationships at Lacuna are just as messed up as the people that they treat. This is definitely one of my favorite films, and would reccomend it to anyone who is a teenager. Personally, I think that Common Sense overreacted with the whole 17+ thing for there was some suggestive material (brief drug use, sexual content without nudity) but it was nothing that I hadn't been exposed to before nor do I think that many teens haven't. So run, don't walk, to see "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," you definitely won't be sorry.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Imaginative, loopy romance is for adults only.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 17–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie has extremely strong language and very explicit sexual references and situations. Characters drink and smoke cigarettes and marijuana.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about which memories they might think about erasing and which ones they will always make sure to keep. They might also like to look up the meaning of the word "Lacuna," talk about some of their favorite quotations and read some of the brilliant poetry of Alexander Pope.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
What’s the Story?
Joel (Jim Carrey) is a shy man whose heart is broken when impulsive and free-spirited Clementine (Kate Winslet) leaves him. When he finds out that she's going to have all of her memories of him erased, he decides to do the same and consults Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkenson) of the Lacuna corporation, who talks him into the procedure. Joel brings everything that reminds him of Clementine and dictates all of his memories of her into a tape recorder. Then Stan (Mark Ruffalo), the Lacuna technician, begins the process of erasing Clementine's memory from Joel's brain. Mary (Kirsten Dunst), Lacuna's receptionist, mails out postcards to Joel's friends asking them never to mention Clementine again. But erasing someone from the mind is one thing; erasing someone from the heart is another. As Stan zaps the memories from Joel's brain, Joel realizes that he does not want to let Clementine go after all. There are memories he wants to keep. And then we are inside Joel's brain (or were we there all along?), as he and Clementine race to find a place to hide, where the memories will be kept safe. Or are those new memories? And is that Clementine who is advising him on how to hold on to her or is it his memory of her?
Is It Any Good?
This fabulously imaginative and deliciously loopy romance is the sweetest movie yet from the magnificently twisty mind of writer Charlie Kaufman, who plays with the themes of identity, time, memory, and attraction in a slightly off-kilter world that seems oddly homelike and familiar. Shot in a style that is both gritty and dreamy, the movie's insinuatingly casual tone gently nudges the concepts along so that it almost begins to make more sense than real life.
Carrey and Winslet risk making their characters as maddening to us as they are to each other and are ultimately as irresistible, too. Ruffalo, Wilkenson, and Dunst are impeccable, providing a bittersweet counterpoint of imperfection and longing. Director Michel Gondry matches Kaufman's script with understated but brilliantly original imagery of memory and forgetting.
Movie Details
Studio: Focus Features, Director: Michel Gondry
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: 03/12/2004, DVD release: 09/27/2004
MPAA Rating: R for language, some drug and sexual content
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: 03/12/2004, DVD release: 09/27/2004
MPAA Rating: R for language, some drug and sexual content
Our Members Say
See all 13 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
BRILLIANT!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
Funny and touching story, especially for those who have experienced a break-up
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a fascinating journey through a man's memories. The screenplay is truly deserving of the Oscar it received, and Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey work surprisingly well together. As far as content, the language is the main concern here, with at least 30 f-words, among many other expletives. There is a brief (and funny) scene involving masturbation, and there is a scene with two people who are naked, though no nudity is shown. There is no actual sex in the film, but there are multiple references to it. I recommend this to anyone mature enough to handle harsh language, and at least understands sexuality.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
incomprehensible
What were these two excellent actors thinking. This is a stupid, ill conceived somewhat sour movie. COmpletely missable.
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
good movie if you want something complex..
Sometimes we're in the mood for a romance that isn't so sally-met-harry and little more unpredictable... this is definitely one of them. A good movie that keeps you thinking-- good acting. For more mature audiences..
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
An excellent film that should have been nominated for more than what it was
I think it was only nominated for like two awards (my memory is hazy from that Academy Awards celebration). But obvisouly, I just watched it for the reason that I had to wait a bit before seeing the movie. But I didn't really think there was that much wrong with it (it was certainly better content-wise than "Crash"), but really the most apparent concerns are the language and sexual situations. Other than that, this is a brilliant movie that is quite fun and original.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
eternal sunshine of absolutly no mind
this movie sucked. It has no music through the entire thing. Anybody could watch it! just don't.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
An intriguing film that keeps the mind guessing...
This movie was amazing! I enjoy that in order to completely understand, you must indulge yourself in the entire movie. You don't figure out the end, until the end, unpredictable movies are great! Probably not suitable for all ages but 16+.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Awesome
I watched this when I was about 13 with my mother, father, and 11 year old brother. I did not find anything too offensive or adult for myself or my brother, neither did my parents. I think that it's a very thought-provoking movie for most ages.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
My Favorite Movie of All Time! woot.
Eternal Sunshine is plain brilliant...it's very creative and eccentric, and I love pretty much everything about it. As far as content goes, CSM seemed to make a huge deal out of the inappropriate stuff, but I didn't think it was too bad. Deserves the R-rating, but it doesn't have anything graphic.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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