Rent Good Will Hunting (1997)

A self-taught maths genius undergoes therapy to confront his demons - Good Will Hunting review by Philip in Paradiso

Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a tough and rebellious 20-year-old man who comes from the working-class neighbourhood of South Boston, which is predominantly white, Irish and Catholic. Will hangs out with 3 friends, including his best friend, Chuckie (Ben Affleck). They go drinking in bars, flirt with girls, and get into fights with other young men. Will is a self-taught mathematics genius, who can solve arcane mathematical problems with ease – a skill he can apply to other sciences, such as biochemistry. He has read a lot – also, books about American history or the law – and finds that his photographic memory enables him to easily retain extremely detailed and comprehensive information. Will works as a janitor at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

When Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård), a famous professor of mathematics at MIT, sets a challenge for his graduate students – they must solve a highly complex mathematical problem posted on a blackboard – Will puts up the answer anonymously. Prof Lambeau tracks him down and wants to help him. The story develops from this point.

This is an intelligent and moving story. Contrary to what one might expect, there is very little about pure science and mathematics: it would not have been easy to construct a movie around such a theme. The film is, really, a sociological and psychological character study. Will Hunting is a working-class lad who is prone to violence and had a terrible childhood. There is tension between his world and that of MIT: when Will is offered a path into academia (or another promising career that would make use of his mathematical genius), he is reluctant to embrace such a future. The film shows that class differences certainly exist in America. When Will is offered therapy to help him come to terms with his situation, the psychological dimension of the story becomes predominant.

This is a very good film and the actors’ performances are excellent, including that of Robin Williams as the unconventional psychotherapist. The movie is perhaps a little bit predictable and, at times, almost too sentimental. But it is certainly worth watching and up to its reputation.

PS: South Boston features in a superb thriller starring Ben Affleck, “The Town”. It is a grittier and more violent take on that part of the city.

fantastic! - Good Will Hunting review by CP Customer

i absoloutely LOVE this film! it is such a well rounded movie, there are performances to make you laugh, make you cry and you can relate to each character the whole way through. fantastic acting from matt damon, ben affleck, minnie driver and robin williams. but, of course, robin williams and matt damon make this film as special as it is, the relationship which develops between these two men is completely realistic and robin williams does a very good transition here from funny man to strong and serious as he also does in 'the night listener'. great film would recommend it to anyone. have bought this and watched it a thousand times it is that good. a real gem!

Excellent script, excellent performances, excellent film - Good Will Hunting review by RP

Robin Williams won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Matt Damon + Ben Affleck won the Best Screenplay Oscar. And thoroughly deserved these awards are too - pity that Brit actress Minnie Driver didn't win her Oscar after being nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Robin Williams is usually a bit too over the top for me, a manic comedy actor, but this film and also 'One Hour Photo' show a much more restrained side to his acting abilities.

The storyline goes like this: Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a lowly janitor at MIT who is also a genius mathematician. He lives in Southie (South Boston) and hangs out with his blue collar friends, drinking beer etc. He is arrested after a brawl and released into the care of an MIT professor on condition he attends therapy sessions with a psychologist. Will sees off several therapists and eventually ends up with psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) who is able to understand the emotional damage he has suffered from his abusive childhood, forms a bond of trust and friendship, and encourages Will to follow his girlfriend (Minnie Driver) rather than a career as a mathematician.

Yes, it sounds implausible (and it is) but it works really well and the excellent script and excellent performances allow you to suspend any disbelief you may feel and enjoy what is a very moving story. Great stuff - 5/5 stars.