Good Will Hunting (1997)

	Directed by: Gus Van Sant	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Den enestående Will Hunting RUNNING TIME 126 minutes
	Produced by: Lawrence Bender
	Written by: Ben Affleck Matt Damon

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Dr. Sean Maguire	Robin Williams
Will Hunting	Matt Damon	½
Chuckie Sullivan	Ben Affleck
Professor Gerald Lambeau	Stellan Skarsgård
Skylar	Minnie Driver	½
Morgan O'Mally	Casey Affleck
Billy McBride	Cole Hauser	½

Review

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon became the youngest ever recipients of the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for this story about a mathematical genius from the wrong side of town, and the calculated shrewdness with which it is written is impressive, even if the screenwriters' youthful hubris sometimes shines through in the form of posturing and flaunting of their cleverness. Good Will Hunting is in many ways a manipulative piece, but it's a manipulative piece with real insight into human psychology and social relations in general, and the depicted cultural region in particular (the Boston area, which both screenwriters hail from). With Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho) on board as director, the film has the courage and competence to address class issues without turning into political propaganda. And as you become increasingly invested in Will Hunting's inevitable quest to break free from his societal constraints, you may find that the most interesting characters in this tale aren't Will at all, but rather the many companions who help him along the way. A fine soundtrack, sensible and agreeable direction from Van Sant, and a handful of fine performances make this do-gooder stand out.