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Good Will Hunting (1997)
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Movie Review by Jarrod
December 17th, 2007
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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon may have surprised themselves when they produced the Oscar-winning script for Good Will Hunting, which is, essentially, based on their friendship, and an affectionate familiarity with Boston, though Affleck was born in California, but was raised in Cambridge, Damon's hometown. To mention these personal details may not be all that important, but the smart, insightful writing of 'Good Will Hunting' relies primarily on such details, as it is a story about a very intelligent young man who rejects any chance at greatness, because he wants to stay close to his buddies, and not betray his working-class upbringing. He is modest in this regard. His name is Will Hunting (Damon), and he is a janitor at MIT.
One day, he solves a math problem posted by esteemed professor Gerald Lambeau (Skarsgard), as a challenge to his students. Lambeau is intrigued when he finds that no one in his class claims credit for the solution, and he eventually ends up discovering Will's amazing mathematical abilities, a natural gift, which Lambeau seeks to nurture and refine. However, Will is a bit of a delinquent, with a long rap sheet. Lambeau relies on his old college pal Sean Maguire (Williams) to counsel Will, after other therapists have found him intolerable. Sean is able to reach Will as others could not.
All of this is fairly predictable, but still enjoyable, predominantly because of Robin Williams, in an Oscar-winning performance, one of his best, who can understand Will and analyze him in a way Will finds dauntingly accurate. Will has a photographic memory, and can digest volumes of information, whole books, which he speed reads, and almost expects Sean to be impressed by this, but Sean really isn't. Sean realizes Will is still quite inexperienced in a lot of areas, and while he recognizes his genius, he also notices many weaknesses and vulnerabilities, which Will defiantly tries to hide. The film is about this relationship, and several others, including with Chuckie (Affleck), Will's best friend, who finds it insulting that Will places limits on his success because of neighborhood loyalty, and is willing to confine himself to a dead-end existence taking odd jobs for little pay, when he could do so much more.
There is also Skylar (Driver), a British student at Harvard, who falls for Will, and hopes that he follows her to California. One can always appreciate good dialogue, and this movie has it in spades, not terribly eloquent or flashy, but fiercely authentic, convincing and interesting. As I said before, there are few surprises, Will inevitably does what Chuckie and Sean wish he would do, and it all falls into place rather nicely. Damon is effective, and so is Driver, but this is undoubtedly Williams's movie. He is wise, sorrowful, and funny, which helps him bond with Will, and earn his trust. There is nothing artificial about him, no pretense, and Will appreciates that, as do we.
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