Eternal Sunshine in Jersey



Today, lunch at acclaimed low-profile Chinatown spot Chanoodle (79 Mulberry), AMC for movies, McDonald's for Oreo McFlurries.



We went to see two movies whose lead actors I have no affection for. I think the word I'm looking for is loathe. I saw Punch Drunk Love just a couple of weeks back, and despite good reviews about the movie, I could not get over the fact of Adam Sandler playing the main character. Instead of focusing on the movie, I zeroed in on his irritating mannerisms and facial expressions.



Jersey Girl, starring Ben Affleck, J.Lo briefly, and Liv Tyler is tolerable. Of course, being a Kevin Smith movie, it has to have Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and a couple of shock value scenes in it. Raquel Castro steals the show in this movie. I loved the alcoholic street sweeper team. The Sweeney Todd scene was entertaining. Oh, and is Jason Lee losing his hair?



I went in really wanting to like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There's something compelling about the Focus logo that makes you like the movie you haven't seen yet. And then I started to hate it about a third of the way because of the jerky shots. I understand this is to enhance the quirky film rep, but it is hell watching on a wide screen. Then I started liking it. I mean, winter in Long Island is such a far-off concept to me that the scenes of Clem and Joel frolicking in the snow on the beach, to me, could only be a product of a brilliant mind. I'm a big fan of beautiful shots. This movie actually made me see winter in a different light. This is not to undermine the story - the whole concept behind the story - because Charlie Kaufman's brilliant twisted ideas are always mindblowing. Jim Carrey was low-key, which is a good thing. Sometimes his irritating mannerisms stubbornly show up in Joel, but he gave a good, controlled performance. I'd buy the DVD because it's the kind of movie wherein you'll discover something new everytime you watch it, depending on your state of mind. Jon Brion, who also did Punch Drunk Love's, did the excellent music.