This is my last film of the year. It's one of the best films I know, in third
place in
my top 100 films list. I had another film in my list planned, but I changed my mind after hearing
about the death of Tom Wilkinson yesterday. The cause of his death hasn't yet
been named, but his family says that it was unexpected. A heart attack? Maybe.
The eulogies are already pouring in. They name his memorable films, usually
starting with "The Full Monty". Most of them don't even mention "Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". That's unfortunate, since it's his best film,
but it's understandable, because he didn't play the main role. Or is it
understandable? He only had a supporting role in "The Full Monty" as well.
I've written about "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" seven times, but I
haven't included photos of him in any of the reviews. I'll make up for it now.
It's a twisted love film between Joel Barish (Jim Carrie) and Clementine
Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), but there's also a love story between Howard
Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) and Mary Svevo (Kirsten Dunst), most of it off
screen.
Dr. Howard Mierzwiak has invented a machine that can selectively erase
memories. He uses it to help people forget loved ones. He's had an affair with
Mary that almost wrecked his marriage, so he used the machine to make her
forget their affair. The procedure works, even though Mary still works in his
practice as his assistant. What he didn't consider is that if she forgets that
she was attracted to him she might fall in love with him a second time.
Is a one-way memory erasure enough? When she adoringly looks at him, how can
he not be reminded of the hours of passion he shared in her arms?
It's a wonderful film, one of the best films I've ever watched. The trouble is
that it's a complicated film. I remember seeing it the first time in the
cinema in 2004. It took me about half an hour to understand what was
happening, and it wasn't until I watched it again on DVD that I began to
understand the subtleties. It's two stories being told at the same time, one
in the correct order, the other in reverse chronology. These two stories
interact with one another, making the film even more complicated. I could tell
by my son Benjamin's reactions that he didn't understand the film. I'll have
to watch it with him again.
Tom Wilkinson 5 February 1948 – 30 December 2023 |
Farewell to a grand actor. He's sadly missed. I'll have to watch some more of
his films next week. Maybe even "The Full Monty".
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