Good Will Hunting (1998)

Robin Williams won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck nabbed one for Best Original Screenplay, but the feel-good hit Good Will Hunting triumphs because of its gifted director, Gus Van Sant. The unconventional director (My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy) saves a script marred by vanity and clunky character development by yanking soulful, touching performances out of his entire cast (amazingly, even one by Williams that's relatively schtick-free). Van Sant pulls off the equivalent of what George Cukor accomplished for women's melodrama in the '30s and '40s: He's crafted an intelligent, unabashedly emotional male weepie about men trying to find inner-wisdom.

Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, a closet math genius who ignores his gift in favor of nightly boozing and fighting with South Boston buddies (co-writer Ben Affleck among them). While working as a university janitor, he solves an impossible calculus problem scribbled on a hallway blackboard and reluctantly becomes the prodigy of an arrogant MIT professor (Stellan Skarsgård). Damon only avoids prison by agreeing to see psychiatrists, all of whom he mocks or psychologically destroys until he meets his match in the professor's former childhood friend, played by Williams. Both doctor and patient are haunted by the past, and as mutual respect develops, the healing process begins. The film's beauty lies not with grand climaxes, but with small, quiet moments. Scenes such as Affleck's clumsy pep talk to Damon while they drink beer after work, or any number of therapy session between Williams and Damon offer poignant looks at the awkward ways men show affection and feeling for one another. --Dave McCoy Amazon.com essential video

An `okay' script produces a `good' movie thanks to some `great' performances...

There is an air of clichéd familiarity that runs through the veins of `Good Will Hunting', but that familiarity never reaches a point of exhaustion. What I mean to say is that there is enough going for the film that makes up for the lack of original (or even at times `realistic') spark. The plot is formulistic. You have a poor orphan who grew up in a rough neighborhood and never committed himself to education, yet he works as a janitor for a prestigious college so that he can listen and learn and when his impressive math IQ is discovered he is immediately pulled at from all angles in a struggle to dominate his genius. What takes this script to another level though are the marvelous performances that embody the film. I was really taken aback by everyone in the cast; the emotion and dedication and attention they gave to the spirit and soul of their characters.

To me, this film is above all else an acting showcase and I will review it as such.

First of all we have Matt Damon. For a long time I considered Matt to be just another pretty face; an actor who was there because of his chiseled abs and his charming demeanor, but then I saw `The Talented Mr. Ripley' and I realized that this guy is a very talented actor. Matt has proven again and again that he deserves his garnered fame. This performance was probably the first real confirmation of his talent. First of all he co-wrote the script; but that is not is forte. The script, like I mentioned, is formulistic and clichéd and really is the weakest facet of the finished product. Damon's performance on the other hand is one of the strongest. As Will he really fleshes himself out to the audience. We see the breakdown of his soul and understand who he is on the inside; the man he is striving to become, fighting to become, but most importantly we see the parts of himself he is afraid he'll lose. This is such a marvelous performance, one that is truly deserving of the praise and accolades it garnered (bravo to the Oscar nomination) and one that you truly won't forget.

Next we have Robin Williams. I love Robin. I think that he is one of our greatest comedians working today and he never fails to attack my funny bone. As a serious actor he is hit or miss with me. I loved his calm and restrained insanity demonstrated in `One Hour Photo' and `Insomnia'. On the other hand I loathed the failed attempt at the same he exhibited in `The Final Cut'. I thought that he was dull and boring in `The Dead Poets Society' yet loved his comforting tone in `Awakenings' (albeit he stood no chance against the force that was DeNiro). Here I am pleased yet not overwhelmed. I thought that Williams' performance was touching and sincere, yet it is not outstanding, thus I feel that his Oscar win was a bit of a stretch (personally I felt both Kinnear & Reynolds were more deserving). As Doctor Sean Maguire he does what he can to make his clichéd character real and understandable, and there are moments where he really grabs me (one such moment is his adlibbed spiel about his wife's flatulence which I found hilarious yet emotionally resonant to his characters warmth) yet his performance to me is not nearly as memorable as those provided by the remaining cast members.

Which brings me to Ben Affleck. I am not one who believes Affleck is a good actor. I enjoyed him in a few things, very few things, but here he really reached me. His character was so natural and believable and even moving. Maybe that's because he wrote the character for himself, I don't know, but he really nailed this one. Throughout the film his character takes a backseat to Damon, but he never allows himself to drift into the background completely, and there are moments where he really steals the limelight and shines the brightest. One scene in particular comes near the end of the film, when he character Chuckie is having his `heart to heart' with Will. Affleck expresses so much emotional depth here, so much natural and heartfelt warmth and understanding that it serves as one of the most fundamental scenes in the film. Affleck may never be this good again, but at least he was this good once.

Now I am a huge fan of Stellan Skarsgard. I just love the majority of his work. His performances in the films of Lars von Treir are what initially grabbed me (I just adored his devilish qualities in both `Dogville' and `Breaking the Waves') but time and time again he manages to grip me completely. Here is no exception. Skarsgard (who just has the coolest name) has a very limited role as Professor Gerald Lambeau, but his presence is felt throughout the film. His misplaced arrogance and false sense of concern is prominent and effective and is displayed on the faces of all who come in contact with him. I just love his methods of delivery and am always compelled to adore him even when his character isn't deserving of adoration (which is more often than not).

I'll make a quick note before moving forward that both Casey Affleck and Cole Hauser are effective in their small roles as friends of Will and Chuckie. Both actors have little to do but both actors have shaped decent careers for themselves since; most notably Affleck who garnered an Oscar nomination last year for his riveting performance as the cowardly killer of one Jesse James. I have mentioned before that I think Cole Hauser is a better actor than his poor film choices allow, so I'll just leave it at that. Give him a decent movie already.

So the last actor (or should I say actress) that I want to discuss here is Minnie Driver. Her performance, for me at least, is best in show. I will say first and foremost that I adore Minnie Driver. I think that she is an extremely talented actress who just soars in both charm and beauty and charisma and natural grace. Here is no exception. As Skylar, Will's love interest, she is a dynamic force, a joyous and lovable portrayal of honest emotion. I love the way that her character feels real; just watching her interact with Will in childish ways add layers of believability to her character. She is relatable. Her final scene with Will breaks my heart into a million pieces every time I see it. She moves me to action and I think that's why I just can't help but laud this performance above all else in the film.

"I love you Skylar."

Every time I watch this movie, especially during that climatic scene, I am compelled to utter those words aloud.

"I love you Skylar."

So there you have it; my thoughts on the movie that is `Good Will Hunting'. As a film itself (that is script wise) it is nothing spectacular, but the many moving performances make this a must see film. I can somewhat agree with the sentiments that this is an overrated film for it is not as impressive as many films released that same year, but acting wise it is close to the front of the pack (it's hard because 1997 also brought us `L.A. Confidential' which sports some of the best performances of the year as well). I'll watch this movie again and again just for the brilliance that is Minnie Driver (not to mention Damon) and I'm sure that even if you don't `adore' this film you will find the satisfaction needed within in order for you to justify multiple watches. One cannot forsake the importance of a solid director, and while Gus Van Sant is somewhat hit or miss with me his direction here is a definite hit, for he drew from his actors exactly what was needed in order to make a simple script shine through its muddled clichés. May 30, 2008

True Drama!

Fascinating story of a math genius (Matt Damon) who is satisfied with being a janitor by day, and carousing with friends at night. Others become involved in trying to steer him to pursue a career using his rare talents, but repeatedly fail. At the same time, old conflict and shortcomings of those trying to help are revealed.

Eventually it is one of Will's buddies (Ben Affleck) who motivates Will to give up his carousing, and the psychiatrist's (Robin Williams) early life choices that drive Will to follow his heart and win the girl.

Clearly an impressive writing (and acting) performance by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, though the final outcome (failing to use Will's talent) was disappointing. May 25, 2008

Another rackworthy movie

Math prodigy Will Hunting must work through his emotional wounds in exchange for working with a math professor. The therapeutic relationship between Damon and Williams is what won Affleck and Damon the oscar for best screenplay. Easily in my top 5. May 21, 2008

Middle of the road.

Good Will Hunting doesn't seem as good as it used to be. The peformances are not that special either, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck still haven't proven they are great actors. Robin Williams steals the movie, he won an Oscar best supporting actor. Damon and Affleck's screenplay is pretty good but not spectacular. I can't really watch this movie anymore, seems shallow and pretentious now and I usually enjoy Gus Van Sant's films. April 30, 2008

What was Good about Will Hunting?

Honestly, what was good about him? Not to make an issue on the title, but Hunting was far from an honest citizen. Genius? Yes. Honest citizen? No.

I'm surprised this movie is rated so high by film critics and by viewers nationwide despite the amount of holes this movie has in its story. Not to mention lackluster performances by some of its main characters and the overall story's believability.

So we're presented with Will Hunting who is the cleanest cut dropout reject to ever step foot on the streets of Boston I have ever seen. Umm yeah right. The hole with Hunting's character is the obvious lack of his childhood background throughout the movie. He's a genius, but he's had a tough childhood. There are rarely any references to his childhood and certainly no flashbacks to help the viewer understand him a little better as the movie goes on. What happened to him? How did he become a genius? Robin Williams does a great job of "guessing" what happened to Will, but how about going into depth? Two words: Character development. We hardly even know how old he is throughout the movie until his best friend, played by Ben Affleck just miraculously gets a car for him for his 21st birthday. So where did Ben get this car? Hmmm.

Also, what is the rival between both professors all about? Vague descriptions of their past, but Williams depicts a down on his luck professor who if you think about closely is pretty much in the same boat as Hunting. Struggling to cope with a troubled past.....which is?? Yes his wife has passed, but there's more to the professor's psyche.

The biggest hole I have a problem with as I mentioned earlier is the genius of Will Hunting. What makes him this way? Why can he solve complicated math equations, but is lacking common sense skills and a decent living for himself? Who taught him as a youth? Einstein started somewhere, where did Hunting start?

Overall, it's a good concept for a film and a great personal story of perseverance through several hardships and society around you. However, you are required to suspend reality a bit and actually believe that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are Bostonian street toughs. Who are they kidding?? April 12, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...