Whenever I go through a breakup, like most any other disgustingly self-pitying person, I'll try to make myself feel worse: sad songs usually get the job done. Certainly ain't nothing like a good cry. What is it about feeling worse that feels better?
One thing, however, that I've always attempted but have never been able to put myself through post-breakup is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When this movie first came out, I saw it at least five times. I couldn't get enough of it. I reveled in the typically clever Charlie Kaufman plot, biting humor, whimsical effects, and—what I assumed must have been—realistic depiction of the many stages of a relationship. You see, up until that point, I had no way of knowing what a relationship would entail because I was what you'd call a late bloomer.
When I finally did experience love and loss, when I first tried to console my heartache with sad songs (nature's onions) and other such nonsense, I thought, well I gotta watch Eternal Sunshine; that'll really get the waterworks flowing. On the way from the shelf to the DVD player, however, I started remembering the movie; I started relating it to my life. I realized just how incisive was its portrayal of a doomed relationship. Everything was so pitch perfect: the inital flutters, the falling for each other, the becoming overly familiar, the settling into a routine, the ensuing ennui, the loss of passion and eventual detachment. And finally, the end. (All in reverse, of course—because Kaufman, as I stated before, clever.)
I paused.
Did I really wanna do this? Yeah, there's having a good cry, and then there's needlessly putting myself through the ringer. I put it off. I'll watch it another time, I thought. And so, with successive breakups I would go through the same routine, and never would I have the guts to put myself through this film.
I'm sure Eternal Sunshine is still a great movie. I just don't know when I'll watch it again.
Oh yeah, as for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's trailer—you know, the ostensible reason I posted this piece—it's real durn good. I can't embed it but you can watch it here.
7 comments:
Yea it's certainly not your generic romantic comedy with the happily ever after at the end. Still, one of the great films of the aughts :) And who knew Jim Carrey could actually be this good in a dramatic role (back then)?
I was floored by Carrey's performance in this movie.
I'm so ashamed I haven't seen this yet! We rented it but had something going on the night we're supposed to watch so my hubby saw it by himself. I have to re-rent this again soon, been hearing all kinds of great things about it. Thanks Dave.
Yeah, you should definitely watch this, but it's not a feel good movie.
Though I never really liked the movie as much as most people do, it is really great and the exeution of the story was quite ingenious. Love the acting in this one.
Interesting. I've avoided watching it too much, but only because I love it so. It's funny - there are certain types of movies that I love that I could watch several times a year (Point Break, Road House, Fletch, etc.), but the "esteemed" ones (and not even dark and deep shit like The Fountain or something) like this and Pulp Fiction I try to be careful about not watching too much. I never want to get tired of them, or maybe I just want each viewing to still be as rewarding as the last. It might sound weird, but it works for me. Still, I really need to watch this again soon - it's been too long now.
That's a good point. I never really thought about it before, but I should try that with the movies I really respect. What ends up happening is I watch the shit out of 'em until I get burned out on 'em.
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