Released during Oscar season of 1997, this Gus Van Sant drama film not only scored itself
nine nominations, it also made $225 million against its modest $10 million dollar budget.
In the role that'd make him a household name, Matt Damon stars as the title character: a
math prodigy who is wasting his life away living in South Boston, and working a janitor.
The involved plot involves his quarrelsome relationship with his court-ordered therapist,
dealing with his townie friend Ben Affleck, his budding romantic involvement with Minnie
Driver, and studying under a renowned MIT professor.
The infinitely versatile Robin Williams is positively brilliant as the physiatrist, who
challenges and battles Damon with long emotional, soul-searching monologues in an Oscar-winning
turn.
Their adversarial contention begets a loving friendship, and his the absolute bedrock of
this 126-minute picture's story.
The original screenplay by Damon and Affleck famously won the two young boys from Boston
an Academy Award - and rightly so: the dialogue and writing here is nearly unparalleled...
one of the all-time best scripts, with Van Sant doing a fantastic job bringing it all
to life, framed by extremely lengthy close-ups, and beautiful repetition and imagery.
Perfectly paced, this movie flows effortlessly from one long sequence to the next, each one
showcasing the magnificent acting talent of the tight-nit cast, and highlighting another
dramatic moment from each of them, especially an overwhelmingly powerful exchange where
Williams repeatedly reassures Damon that his troubled past is "not his fault".
The R-rated movie is also wickedly funny - particularly if you're from the Boston area, and can relate
to the antics and camaraderie between Damon, Affleck, and their Southie buddies, like in
a marvelous scene where they confront a Harvard student at a bar, hilariously schooling him
in front of a potential female conquest.
Or, when Affleck serves up sophisticated sounding malapropisms to trick an interviewing board
into believing he's Will, the math genius.
Danny Elfman's mellow score winds in and out of the picture beautifully, occasionally accompanied
by some wonderful acoustic ballads from singer-songwriter Elliot Smith.
Taken from afar, the over-arching plot here rarely surprises... but the small moments
littered throughout is what makes this experience so rewarding and powerful.
An examination of trust, compassion, and finding your true purpose in life - this is a relatable
and enjoyable film that resonates with me the more I watch, and the older I get.
"Good Will Hunting", is a "Refreshingly emotional and uplifting experience."
Now let's hear your thoughts from the YouTube comments.
Our scores for "Good Will Hunting"... a double NINE.
Although most held-off on the top score, we all agreed the acting and writing in this
picture was phenomenal, with both of us rating this picture an AWESOME.