Good Will Hunting
Itâs still pretty amazing to me that after Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in essence wrote their own ticket with this script (and picked up an Oscar), that to this day they have yet to try to write another insightful, intelligent story like this, choosing to eschew that to pursue Hollywood stardom instead. They manage to deftly capture the sense of massive insecurity that young Boston males embody (thus all their smack-talking) along with some probing material about the torment of being a genius along with those others who are smart enough to see it. Indeed, in many ways the real star here is Robin Williams as the therapist who helps Damonâs Will Hunting deal with his traumatic past and face the future: Itâs amazing what Williams is capable of when he takes on a role where his goofy ad-libbing and propensity for schmaltz is reined in, and the scene with them at the park where he tells Damon about the value of life experience may be his all-time shining moment as an actor, leading to a well-deserved Oscar in 97 against tough competition. As Hunting, Damon plays the part with resolve, making him engaging without having his self-pitying nature turn the viewer off; Affleck as his working-class buddy has a lot of annoying bits, but his big scene at the construction site with Damon shows his future promise; Skarsgard as the mathematics professor who is tortured by Huntingâs ability putting him to shame is also on-key. Only Minnie Driver, as the med student Hunting falls for, seems to be playing an obligatory role here, and while she isnât all bad, her own Oscar nod is a little puzzling. The film falters at times with pacing and with some scenes that clearly donât belong, including Affleck chastising his buddy for masturbating in his house and an overly stylized political diatribe by Damon after Hunting is offered a job with the NSA. The core of this movie, though, is the therapy scenes between Damon and Williams, with both actors stepping up to the plate to show how the bond that develops between them is real, even if Williamsâ eventual âsolutionâ to Huntingâs problems rings a bit simplistic (âItâs not your fault. Itâs not your fault.â). Credit should be given to director Gus Van Sant (in his career highlight) for keeping things watchable and interesting, as the actual nuts and bolts of Huntingâs math ability is kept to a minimum in favor of the human element of the story, thus making it a fine drama that is only mildly overratedâŚ
8/10