Good Will Hunting
1997 · Movie · 126 min. · United States
Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, a closet math genius who ignores his gift in favor of nightly boozing and fighting with South Boston buddies (co-writer Ben Affleck among them). While working as a university janitor, he solves an impossible calculus problem scribbled on a hallway blackboard and reluctantly becomes the prodigy of an arrogant MIT professor (Stellan Skarsgård). Damon only avoids prison by agreeing to see psychiatrists, all of whom he mocks or psychologically destroys until he meets his match in the professor's former childhood friend, played by Williams. Both doctor and patient are haunted by the past, and as mutual respect develops, the healing process begins. The film's beauty lies not with grand climaxes, but with small, quiet moments. Scenes such as Affleck's clumsy pep talk to Damon while they drink beer after work, or any number of therapy session between Williams and Damon offer poignant looks at the awkward ways men show affection and feeling for one another.
Direction Gus Van Sant
Cast Matt Damon · Robin Williams · Minnie Driver · Ben Affleck · Stellan Skarsgard · Casey Affleck · Cole Hauser · Philip Williams · John Mighton · Rachel Majorowski · Colleen McCauley · Matt Mercier · Richard Fitzpatrick · Harmony Korine
Soundtrack Danny Elfman
Screenplay Matt Damon · Ben Affleck
Cinematography Jean-Yves Escoffier
Original title Good Will Hunting
7.5
103K votes (FilmAffinity)
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