Good Will Hunting (1997)

I am literally two days (a little less than) from embarking on a real 30 day film challenge and there were some films that I wanted to catch up on before I did that. One of those films happens to be considered a classic and one that Sheldon had recommended to me so this is also a Sheldon's Choice film, but for today we checked out 1997's Good Will Hunting which was directed by Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho). The film stars Matt Damon (Downsizing) as Will Hunting, a janitor who has had it rough while living in South Boston, but one day that all changes. Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård), A professor at MIT always puts up math problems that are hard to solve, but not for Will who easily answers it. Lambeau is baffled by it and upon meeting Will feels that he just needs the right kind of push to move his life in the right direction and so he hires a psychologist to help Will. The film also stars Robin Williams (Hook) as Sean, Ben Affleck (Dazed And Confused) as Chuckie,  Casey Affleck (A Ghost Story) as Morgan, Cole Hauser (Dazed And Confused) as Billy, Minnie Driver (Grosse Pointe Blank) as Skylar, Scott William Winters (The People Vs Larry Flynt) as Clark, and George Plimpton (L.A. Story) as Psychologist.

First things first and that is I cannot believe that I waited 23 years to watch this film and you'll notice that a lot with me if you pay attention to some of my film selections. The second thing is that there is a reason that this film was nominated for nine Oscars back in the day because it was that good even though they only won two awards. Robin Williams needs no introduction and after watching this film there was no denying that he was going to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor because he did his job and he supported Matt Damon and elevated him throughout the film. The amazing feet is that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote this film together and they won the Oscar for Best Writing directly for the big screen and deservedly so. The film is so much more than a fun look at Boston accents because it was the look at the effects of abuse and what it did to a kid who was afraid of rejection. He is so afraid of it that he pushes people away and he is so afraid of pushing himself that he is stuck in South Boston breaking bricks. All he needed was the right guy to push the right buttons which was Robin William's character, but more important than that was what Ben Affleck told him in the film. It's easy to dismiss outsiders and their advice, but when it comes from someone you trust like your best friend then it really resonates with you. This was a beautiful film with some amazing cinematography, great acting, and some amazing editing. If you have not seen this yet then you need to get off your a** and do so. I am giving the film an A+ for a final grade.