Good Will Hunting

Updated:

Originally Published:

,

Directed by Gus Van Sant
Written by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

Starring

Robin Williams
Matt Damon
Ben Affleck
Stellan Skarsgård
Minnie Driver


RELEASE DATES:

December 2, 1997 (Bruin Theater)
December 5, 1997 (United States)

“….But you’ve never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn’t know what it’s like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything, through cancer.

You don’t know about real loss, ’cause it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself. And I doubt you’ve ever dared to love anybody that much.”

– Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams)

Robin Williams’ Speech | Good Will Hunting

““People call these things “imperfections,” but they’re not. That’s the good stuff. And then we get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds. You’re not perfect, sport. And let me save you the suspense. This girl you met, she isn’t perfect either. But the question is whether or not you’re perfect for each other. That’s the whole deal. That’s what intimacy is all about. Now you can know everything in the world, sport, but the only way you’re finding’ out that one is by giving’ it a shot.”

– Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams)

Good Will Hunting | ‘Perfect for Each Other’ (HD) – Matt Damon, Robin Williams

Good Will Hunting is an almost universally loved 1997 American drama loved for its life-affirming themes, heartfelt sentiment, witty and insightful dialogue that introduced Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to cinema, a beautiful performance from Robin Williams, and the melancholic music of Elliott Smith. The film is directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It stars Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, and Minnie Driver. The film tells the story of the young janitor Will Hunting (Matt Damon), whose troubled upbringing as an orphan, and dysfunction in life and love, that often leads him down a path of violence and crime. This masks his intelligence, especially as a mathematical genius which is discovered by an insecure but brilliant professor at MIT (Stellan Skarsgård). This discovery and his violence leads him to see a therapist (Robin Williams) as part of the court order. The film has achieved great success and longevity as a multiple winner at the 70th Academy Awards, with Best Supporting Actor for Williams and Best Original Screenplay for Affleck and Damon, as well as a Golden Globe award for Original Screenplay. I still watch and enjoy the film to this day, more than 20 years after I first watched it, especially for the wonderful dialogue (quotes that live in my head) and chemistry between Robin Williams and Matt Damon in the therapy sessions. I am still blown away that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay, and makes me miss Robin William’s wonderful wit and talents.

Good Will Hunting also features a wonderful soundtrack scored by Danny Elfman, and most importantly introduced five tracks of the acoustic and melancholic folk music of the late Elliott Smith, which you can hear throughout the film. In particular, the haunting “Miss Misery” closes the film, and was nominated for an Academy award. In a closing musical twist, “Miss Misery” takes a detour and launches into the 1970s one-hit wonder “Afternoon Delight” from Starland Vocal Band. Definitely not a liked song of mine, that often finds itself on most disliked lists, but it does add to the sometimes quirky and witty style of the film.

“Miss Misery”, Elliott Smith

“Miss Misery”

“Between The Bars”, Elliot Smith

“Between The Bars”

“Afternoon Delight”, Starland Vocal Band (… for the brave of heart)

“Afternoon Delight”