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Good Will Hunting (1997)

Director: Gus Van Sant

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Good Will Hunting's sincerity comes capitalised, which is not to deny the film is honest and moving in its way. Damon (who co-scripted, with Ben Affleck) plays Will, a janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He's a closet genius, a volatile orphan who'd rather hang out with his beer buddies than parlay his brains into the lucrative career that would seem to be his destiny. Appalled that such a talent should be lost to science, maths professor Lambeau (Skarsgård) takes the boy under his wing, arranges for him to get psychiatric help, and watches Will make monkeys of the shrinks. Sean (Williams) is the last resort: another South Boston guy who never really made it, maybe he can break through where his distinguished peers failed. There are tensions here. To an extent, the film challenges America's ingrained anti-intellectualism, yet its anti-elitist instincts lead it close to equating academia with a dubious effeminacy. In the end it even falls back on that old cinematic panacea: get in touch with your inner Robin Williams. It's acted and directed with care, and Damon is outstanding, his scenes with Driver being especially sparky.

Author: TCh

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Lorna Singh said...

Posted on Feb 11 2011 04:13 Robin Williams shows he has range as an actor,adding depth to the film with his scenes.

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Philon coutiho said...

Posted on Nov 10 2008 03:46 excellent movie especially rob williams
good watch and very inspiring...Exciting!!

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