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Good Will Hunting Dir: Gus Van Sant Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams Will Hunting is smart, funny, and down to earth. He reads tirelessly at night and can quote economic theories down to the page, author, and edition, and goes out drinking with his blue collar friends in South Boston after he's done with his duties as a janitor at MIT. He even seems happy. So why is he about to go to jail? Good Will Hunting is an incredible story - well written, directed, acted, and produced. It has been the surprise of the awards this season, nominated for Golden Globes and raved about in previews. It's the story of Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a genius from a rough neighborhood who always seems to be in trouble with the law. He can usually get himself out of trouble until he goes a bit too far - beating a townie within an inch of his life in a playground brawl. The movie tells the story of the people around him and how he is pulled in different directions. There are four main instigators. Psychiatry Professor Sean, played brilliantly by Robin Williams, girlfriend Skylar (Minnie Driver), best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck), and mathematician Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard). Each one of these people confronts Will with his abilities and potential, whether in love, his profession, or his regular interaction with other people. The trouble is, he doesn't want to face himself. He clings to the nobility of the working class and uses his abilities to crush the Harvard snobs and yuppies he meets. Then he falls in love with Skylar, a Harvard student, and begins regular counseling with Sean as part of a deal to keep him out of jail. Lambeau puts the deal together with the court because he sees potential in Will he doesn't see in any of his students at MIT. Suddenly, he's out of his environment hanging with Chuckie and the boys from the neighborhood. He has to get his face out of the books and deal with life. The most amazing part of this film is that this is Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's first script. This is a mature film, no doubt helped by the talent surrounding the two talented young writers/actors. Lawrence Bender, long associated with Quentin Tarantino, simultaneously produced Good Will Hunting and Jackie Brown. Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier, whom Affleck worked with on both Clerks and Mallrats, were co-executive producers, as was Chris Moore, who produced Glory Daze. Gus Van Sant, who directed To Die For and Drugstore Cowboy, loved the realism of the script and signed on to direct. Robin Williams filmed it in a window in his schedule, making sure he was able to do the film. This is close to the best movie I've seen all year, if not the best hands down. Even with all the hype and buzz surrounding it, it doesn't disappoint. Rarely have I walked out of a film feeling as shaken and touched as I did walking out of Good Will Hunting. Damon and Affleck will have a hard time topping themselves after this. Good Will Hunting is simply a beautiful movie. -Nick |
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