Movie 156: Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting (1997) by Gus Van Sant

starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams

In a nutshell: Another of my very favorite movies. The touching story is punctuated with great performances including Robin Williams' Oscar-winning turn

Quick synopsis: Will Hunting is a troubled but brilliant young man from the slums of South Boston. He gains access to a new world by taking a job as a janitor at MIT.

Content: Good Will Hunting is one of my 5 favorite film of all time (along with Field of Dreams, The Shawshank Redemption, The Big Lebowski and The Godfather), so get ready for some unconditional praise.

It's funny how my favorite films work. Amongst my favorite films are many acknowledged masterpieces like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Fargo and The Usual Suspects. But perched at the very top of my list are a few films that have noticeable flaws. I am referring to Shawshank, Good Will Hunting and Field of Dreams. But it's because of their flaws that they have ended up at the top. I have fallen in love with their flaws and this pushes these films past the "flawless" ones. They are perfectly imperfect.

So why do I like Good Will Hunting so much? Let me count the ways

• Love that it was written by its stars Matt and Ben, and at a high enough level to garner an Oscar nomination
• Robin Williams has certainly had his low points, but he deserved every bit of his Oscar. He comes out of nowhere at least 30 minutes into the film and shocks everyone by proving he can play a serious role, even if the accent is odd at times (one of those great flaws)
• Introduced me to the lovably ubiquitous Stellan Skarsgard. I know he had been around for a long time before GWH, but every time he turns up as Bootstrap Bill or as a Werner Herzog-esque crazy director on Entourage, I will always think "This is professor Lambeau!" .... "and this is Professor Hays"
• What's the deal with the creepy TA, Tom?? He clearly has developed an unhealthy connection with Gerry Lambeau. How does he get away with lines like "Sometimes people get lucky. You're a brilliant man." without getting his ass kicked? How is this character not discussed more? Unintentional comedy galore.
• Fantastic quotes like "'My boy's wicked smart!" and "Ibid, your honor". Not to mention the legendary exchange between Will and the "Michael Bolton clone" in the Harvard bar.
• Casey Affleck. Looking back, it should have been obvious that he was the better actor of the two even back then. Every time he shows up he drops fantastic lines.
• Speaking of Casey Affleck, his character has an all time great "punchline-only" moment. You know that old move where we are dropped in on a conversation just in time for the punchline of what seems to have been a very funny joke or a very interesting story but are left bewildered as to what could possible have led up to it? Well, right before Skylar walks up to him and Will in the bar Casey is saying something about a "heavy-set girl" and a "receding hairline". I sincerely would love to have heard that entire conversation, but it was not meant to be. Also great: the way he excuses himself from that conversation
• Of course there's the whole Boston thing
• The Elliott Smith songs, highlighted by Miss Misery during the closing credits
• The first (and probably only) film appearance of Bunker Hill Community College
• The emotional climactic scene between Will and Sean (Williams). A powerful moment.
• The way the final resolution is tied back into one quote from earlier in the movie. I thought this was an appropriate way to end it. But then, for good measure, they go and tie it back to a another important earlier quote from a different character, bringing things full circle and leaving us on an even more satisfying note. (let's ignore the plot hole that Ben wouldn't have had any reason to pick Will up since Will got a car)
• Set the scene for the fantastic sequel, Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season

I could go on and on, but let's stop and concentrate on trying to figure out the mystery of Tom the TA. Deal? Suffice it to say that I HIGHLY recommend Good Will Hunting.

Other than these things, I never cared for Minnie Driver as Skylar, but maybe it works because she is realistically imperfect.

Rolling rankings:

1. Good Will Hunting (#156)

2. Punch-Drunk Love (#147)

3. In Bruges(#153)

4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (#155)

5. Up (#149)

6. I.O.U.S.A. (#150)

7. Burn After Reading (#152)

8. The Da Vinci Code (#151)

9. 21 (#154)

10. Star Trek: Generations (#148)

key:

masterpiece

excellent

good

mixed bag

more bad than good

garbage