From October 14, 2007:
I am really enjoying Netflix, I have to say. It's a brilliant way to catch up on all of these movies I have otherwise not had the time to see, and I love the fact that there is no deadline pressure to watch these things. They appear in the mailbox; I return them there when I'm done and put the little flag up. All is magical about this service.
I promise I don't work for them.
Now, don't judge me here. The next film in the queue was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Hey, look, it's not like I haven't really really wanted to see this movie ever since it came out. It's just one of those films that I haven't really had the chance to see until now. Sometimes that happens.
This movie was all at once magical and twisted, beautiful and ugly, smart and yet senseless. There was something poetic about it, and yet something that didn't quite gel when I pondered all of the pieces. I loved it all the same, but it's a tempered love, a cautious love that keeps me from thinking this is the most brilliant movie I have ever seen. It's certainly brilliant in its own fashion, don't get me wrong; it's just got a quality or an element that doesn't sit right with me. I'll try to explain as best as I can, but I don't know how articulate I can be.
Eternal Sunshine...is billed as a romantic comedy, which I find ironic, because I never laughed. Seriously, I never once laughed at this picture. I chuckled bemusedly once or twice, grinned, and even inwardly rejoiced, but I never once laughed. I didn't find this movie funny, and I'm very perplexed about that.
Eternal Sunshine is a boy meets girl picture that only Charlie Kaufman can write. Jim...
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I always find it so fascinating how often great comedians can give brilliant dramatic performances.