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Reviews
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
A wonderful interpretation of what love really is....
If you are looking for a film about love that doesn't include cheesy chat-up lines, heart-shaped chocolate boxes and the guarantee that the protagonists will all live 'happily ever after', then this is likely to be a film for you. For once, I have found a film that is not about love in a fairy-tale, but instead, is about true love that you find in the real world, with the bad and dull bits left in. In contrast though, this film never gets dull. For the entirety of my first viewing, I was sat in the cinema, with my eyes glued to the screen and welling-up throughout. I was impressed by Kate Winslet's (Clementine) and Jim Carrey's (Joel) acting, especially since I can not sit through most of Carrey's films because I generally find him so annoying! In this film though, Carrey performs wonderfully as a man whose life seems a bit dull, until he falls in love with an exciting and interesting woman, who brings out his personality and makes him shine. Winslet has succeeded in acting superbly, once again as a character who does not quite conform and strives to be different. Carrey and Winslet have succeeded in producing an extremely convincing relationship as well; working even better together than they do alone.
The heart-felt performances from the supporting actors can not be ignored either. Kirsten Dunst and Tom Wilkinson add an essential ingredient to the film, with another, unexpected relationship that, at first appears to support the work that Wilkinson's character (Howard) does. Howard works at 'Lacuna' which is a company that erases parts of people's memories so they can forget whatever they wish to. The affects of the procedure are beautifully described by an extract from Alexander Pope's poem 'Eloisa to Abelard' that provides a wonderful juxtaposition to images that are gradually being erased of Joel and Clementine when their relationship was happy, as the poem is read by Mary (Dunst)over the images that so strongly suggest that to have your memory erased is to take away a part of your soul. At the end of the film Mary and Howards relationship becomes proof that memories are what makes us who we are, and to forget a part of our lives is to forget a part of who we have become.
As Joel goes through the procedure for erasing his memory he starts to remember why he felt so much for Clementine and rediscovers his love for her and as they meet by co-incidence in Mauntauk after they have both had the procedure they can start to rebuild their relationship as if it were the first time that they have met. What I find most wonderful about 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' though, is that after they discover that they have had the procedure to erase each other from their memories and why they wanted to forget each other, they agree to give it another go because it is worth it, purely to remember the good times, even if the outcome is the same as last time.
Overall, the entire film really sums up what a true relationship is about and is beautiful to watch, not only because of the superb script by Charlie Kaufman, but also because of the wonderfully created mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and music. Consequently, I give this film a very big thumbs up! Watch it, you won't regret it!
American Beauty (1999)
Should be every man's personal guide
This film is AMAZING! For Sam Mendes' first film it is truly mind-blowing. Kevin Spacey is wonderfully cast as a man bored with his life, who has the mid-life crisis of a life-time. It has everything a mid-life crisis should have; a new 'va va voom' car, a hot, younger chick and muscles! Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey)has become my dad's own personal hero. However, this film is not just mindless entertainment. The plot takes an interesting turn as Lester starts to realise the importance of life and his family. The entire story is beautifully entwined to produce a result where any of the characters could end up being Lester's murderer.
With Conrad L. Hall's beautifully done cinematography, this film has been created with a huge conscience. The way that the camera pans left as Lester is killed, shows us that the violence is not the subject of the film. It is focused more upon what Lester learns in the last moments leading up to his death.
The music also adds to the superb creativity in this film. In what was potentially a cheesy moment, where Jane and Ricky are sat watching a homemade movie of a plastic bag flying in the air, Thomas Newman added the crucially subtle music that makes this moment meaningful instead.
There are too many wonderful things to say about this film now though, so i'll leave you with this one last comment: Watch this film if it's the last thing you do, because you will never see another film quite like it.
Futuresport (1998)
Piece of rubbish - but good for a laugh
From looking at the DVD cover I could tell that this movie was going to be a bit rubbish, but nothing could prepare me for how bad it actually was! The acting was hopeless and the script was laughable. The special effects were a bit dodgy but thanks to this film, i'm no longer afraid of spiders. I did get some inspiration for doing my makeup from the bad guys of this film though - thanks dudes!
However,with the combination of Dean Cain's awful (and extremely cheesy)acting and Snipes' hilarious accent (I think it was supposed to be Caribbean)this movie provided me with one-and-a-half hours of laughter. I strongly recommend this film if you want a good laugh and have nothing better to do with your life.