Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Time.
134 Mins. Starring: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, David Thewlis, Toni Collette & Guy Boyd. Director: Charlie Kaufman.
Erm...huh?! Netflix's latest film really is something else as quarantined in lockdown we're all climbing the walls like our houses are playing tricks on us, just a little west of being haunting. "I'm thinking of ending things," our lead Jessie Buckley says. But what is she talking about? Her love? Her life? Because like the 'Mother' of all Darren Aronofsky mindf### movies with Jennifer Lawrence, this indie epic (filmed in 'A Ghost Story' Polaroid portrait frame form) leaves us with no idea to what the hell is going on. But oh how it's as compelling as it is cinematic in three play like, perfectly staged acts with a twist. A guess whose coming to dinner, meet the parents stationary situation blowing through the wind like a Bob Dylan song were you wish you knew the answers. This Iain Reid adapted novel of the same name, bookended by the drive there and all the way back. Through the sleet and the snow of the cold cinematography that evokes as much beauty as it does loneliness...such is life. What more would you expect from the eternal sunshine of director Charlie Kaufman's spotless mind? The 'Synecdoche, New York' and 'Anomalisa' director who wrote a movie with more John Malkovich's than 90's thrillers in need of a villain. Malkovich. Malkovich. Malkovich. As weird as it is wonderful, expect this cult hit to be as divisive as some of the most outstanding, offbeat classics and divide people like the Mars and Venus of modern love.
'Wild Rose', 'War and Peace' and BBC's 'Taboo' with Tom Hardy actress Jessie Buckley is absolutely amazing in this existential, experimental movie that is quite possibly anything that you make of it. Because she makes the most of a journey and a meeting through this 'Tree Of Life' that you really have to stay with, if you want it and you to grow. It takes a special type of talent to keep someone invested in this labour of love and Buckley's influence buckles you in. From the iced in windows of a snow painted car, bringing back images of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet lying like angels from on high. To the wine and wallpaper, as there's so much to unpack here without going into spoiler territory or having an actual clue. Like why she changes clothes more times than Jay-Z and Pharrell. Whilst one of the most underrated and amazing actors of his time Jesse Plemons is on his trademark fine form. This man has been in everything. Let's reel some off. 'All The Pretty Horses', 'The Master', 'Black Mass', 'The Program', 'Bridge Of Spies', 'American Made', 'The Post', 'Vice' and most recently 'The Irishman'. But here he takes a backseat as this is really Buckley's movie. Still he brings an inner turmoil to this role behind the wheel that hides its anger behind poetry and random outbursts at the dinner table that set the plates rattling like our nerves or an American beauty. Together Jessie and Jesse share something aside from a similar spelt and sounding first name. It's not quite complete chemistry (and that's the distant lover point), but instead a set-piece that shows just how much of a distance we are from each other in this Tulsa tundra, even before corona. It could be six feet or more. Or it could be riding shotgun with the only one close to shoot you down. But there's still a disconnect like swiping right past this love and life that will flash before your eyes like memories at the dinner table that now become photo frames above the fireplace that try to keep you warm on these cold nights.
It all seems 'Hereditary' like sins of the family, as a terrific Toni Collette's compelling mothering role is as moving as it is maddening. She stirs with haunting horrors that act like repressed quirks that refuse to be quiet. The white from the window outside appearing in her hair right before our glazed eyes. Then there's the unmistakable voice of stop-motion 'Anomalisa' star David Thewlis. Who at his best here brings something we try to make sense of like why he has that band-aid on his forehead. Or why is he looking that way? Turning uncomfortable silences into even more unsettling stares. But just wait until he offers you the guest room. And then there's the janitor character played perfectly by 'Miami Vice' and 'The Young Pope' character actor Guy Boyd. Buffing the hall of a local high school calling back to Matt Damon's math genius in 'Good Will Hunting'. All as a locker clapping to basketball court dance floor ballet brings boundless beauty to the end of this last waltz and last act like Oklahoma. You still may have little clue to what's going on, but outside of the corona closed cinema you'll never have a cinematic experience quite like this. Especially on the Netflix you scroll through so much like a dating app, searching for a match that the streaming service billboards here in Tokyo just features the red line of their continue watching runtime over a black background. The only thing that comes close for your list is Radiohead lead Thom Yorke's artistic 'Anima' extended music video with 'There Will Be Blood', 'Magnolia' and Haim music video director Paul Thomas Anderson, who has a new movie coming out with the Valley Girls Baby sister Alana. There will be many that would leave this on permanent halfway through if it wasn't for the new remove feature. Still stick with it from the iconic logo to the international credit screens and you may just have something apart from an exploded brain. If you're thinking of ending things, please don't. If you're thinking of watching this, please do. Mind...blown. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind', 'A Ghost Story', 'Mother!'
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