Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Michel Gondry returns to the director’s chair this week with his new film Mood Indigo, which sees him team up with Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris.
To celebrate the release of Gondry to the director’s chair, we take a look at the top three movies of his filmmaking career so far.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and it remains one of Gondry’s greatest movies, as he worked with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
The movie follows Joel and Clementine who have memories of each other and their relationship erased - it is only during this process that they remember what they had together.
At its heart, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a rather bittersweet love story, but because it is set in a wonderful world that has been created by writer Charlie Kaufman, it is something that is far more memorable than that: this really is not your average boy meets girl movie.
This movie explores relationships, the difficulties in relationships, the pain of splitting up, and how difficult it is moving on, and yet it is all explored in a quirky and unique way that we have never seen before. It really is a breath of fresh air when it comes to relationship movies.
On top of a great scrip, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is beautifully shot as well as terrifically acted: Winslet on top form while Carrey shows that he is much more than just a comedian - he really should tackle more roles like this to show himself off as an actor.
Granted, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will not be a film for everyone, but it is a brave and visual piece of filmmaking that will have you thinking long after the credits have rolled.
The movie went on to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, while Winslet was nominated for Best Actress: losing out to Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby.
- The Science of Sleep (2007)
Gondry returned to the director’s chair in 2007 for the first time since the success of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with The Science of Sleep.
Gondry also penned the screenplay for the film, which a man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love-struck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
If you are looking for a film that will transport you to another world, then The Science of Sleep is one for you. It may not be as compelling a watch as some of his previous work, but that does not stop The Science of Sleep from being inventive and unique.
Gondry has the knack from making totally compelling films that are unlike anything else that you have seen, and he achieved that once again with this film. Much like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep is a love story, and yet Gondry has told it in his own individual way.
He avoids all of the clichés that come with the genre of romance film, and instead he has delivered something that is creative, original and packed with visual flair.
The Science of Sleep may be a film that is not as mainstream or accessible as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but that does not stop it from being a treat of a film.
- Block Party (2006)
During his career, Gondry has moved between narrative movies and documentaries: in 2006, he returned to the latter with Block Party. Block Party came after the success of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and before be returned to narrative film with The Science of Sleep.
Block Party saw Gondry team up with funny man Dave Chappelle for a film that is a mix of comedy and music during a show for a Brooklyn neighbourhood.
I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy concert movies - whether it be music of comedy I am not really that bothered - as there is just something that is so raw, real and in the moment about them. And that is exactly what you have here with Block Party.
This movie shows off Chappelle at his comic best and Gondry has filmed it in a way that really does put you in the middle of the action.
If you are a fan of Chappelle then this really is a must see, as he truly is on top form from start to finish: he has a real charm to him that he makes an engaging and truly watchable front man for this documentary.
Block Party was perhaps an unexpected choice of film for Gondry after the success of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but it was great to see Gondry mix up his projects and deliver that couldn’t’ have been more different from that feature film success.
Mood Indigo is released 1st August.