“Most days I wish I’d never met you ‘cause then I could sleep at night. I didn’t have to walk around with the knowledge that there was someone like you out there. I didn’t have to watch you throw it all away.”
Good Will Hunting is another favourite of mine, it came out in 1997 and it is directed by Gus Van Sant, who has directed films like My Own Private Idaho, Milk, Elephant and Drugstore Cowboy. It was written by the two leading men in the film, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who earned an Oscar for their story. This is one of those films that make me so incredibly happy and so incredibly sad at the same time. I’ve noticed that many of my favourite films make me feel that way, bittersweet.
The story goes as follows, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) a young adult from the rough parts of South Boston. He has always had it really rough and this has flawed his emotions and meaning of life. He works as a janitor at M.I.T, although he’s got the potential to solve any problem in the world, being the mathematical genius he is. Will and his friends (Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser) spends a lot of time with self-destructive hobbies, fighting and drinking. They take one step to many and Will is almost sent to jail but he gets rescued by an M.I.T professor (Stellan Skarsgård). Will decide to say yes to the conditions laid out by Professor Gerald Lambeau, being that he comes to see him every week to work with maths, and see a therapist. With a little help from Gerald’s old friend, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) the therapist, Will get’s the help he needs and the love deserves.
The fact that Matt and Ben wrote this film is still such a shock to me, don’t get me wrong, I’m not surprised that they could write or anything, but the fact that they also are such good actors. Some people just have everything, like the director of this film Gus Van Sant. He’s a brilliant director, painter, producer and surely many more things. Much like Mike Mills (who wrote and directed Beginners). It is a very interesting, heartfelt story but it is also very charming at the same time, and it came out brilliantly on screen. The acting I enjoyed tremendously. Matt Damon is effortlessly charming and smart in this film, and his more emotional scenes are sincere and it will bring tears to you eyes. Ben Affleck plays Will’s best friend and he pushes Will to succeed, not wanting him to end up like him. Ben and his brother, Casey Affleck plays their roles perfectly. I and most of the world saw Robin Williams as one of the craziest and innovated comedians ever, and for him to just switch and deliver a sensitive performance like that is astonishing. Stellan Skarsgård (who looks scary alike my father) plays the professor who tries to help Will, but is unable to do so, is also very good in this film. The chemistry between Minnie Driver, who plays Will’s love interest Skylar, and Matt Damon is near magic.
Overall, this film is a really touching and believable one, and I don’t understand people who hated this film. But I guess it’s one of those films, you either love it and treasure it forever or you don’t feel anything for it. But I recommend it to everyone, this film really has a soul.
