Skepsis' 100

I saw this film for the first time when I was 13 or 14 and I didn't get it. I was expecting another wacky Jim Carrey comedy and was sorely disappointed. Then I revisited it. It's about two years now since I started looking at film in a new light, the beginning of a passion that has lasted me until now and shows no signs of slowing down, and it started with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Not only is this my favourite film, it also kick-started a sort of renaissance in my tastes, a period that has made me look at art and life with new eyes.

"Joel, hide me in your humiliation!"

I knew immediately after seeing it for that second time that it was something incredibly special. An actor whom I had previously admired only for his comedic chops (and he has them, don't get me wrong) was up there on the screen delivering an emotionally complex, deeply felt performance – a sensational one. I started thinking about actors and their craft in new ways. The beautifully melancholic atmosphere still stuns me to silence, it was presenting romance in a bittersweet way I had never experienced before. And the trippy weirdness that permeates almost every facet of the picture – the surreal visuals, the non-linear chronology, the blurring of dream and reality – was something completely new to me; I had never exposed myself to something like that before. It was awesome. Its comments on love, life, technology, relationships, and reality vs. fiction are incredibly intelligent and real yet accessible and moving. Many viewings later and it always hits me in the same ways, but new ways as well. Every performance is fantastic. It's beautifully written by one of my (now) favourite screenwriters with grace, humour and incredible pathos, built around a sensational concept. It always provokes new ideas. It's gloriously smart yet brilliantly entertaining. Its pleasures are endless.

I could go on for days about this film, but I think I'll keep it short and sweet. A HUGE thanks to anyone that commented, +repped, or even looked at my list, it's much, much appreciated. Really. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it and got something out of it, whether it's a new perspective on a film, or one you want to check out, I'll feel as though I've done some good.

Thanks for reading!