Just a few weeks ago, I reviewed 1989’s Dead Poets Society,
a film featuring one of Robin Williams’ best dramatic roles. It even picked him
up a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance. For me, it’s a push
though when you stop and consider Williams’ overall acting parts. That
conversation includes both Dead Poets and 1997’s Good Will Hunting.
Working as a janitor at M.I.T., Will Hunting (Matt Damon)
has a pretty simple life. He works, reads, and enjoys hanging out with his
friends in south Boston. There’s something special about Will though, something
he only lets out in small doses. Will is an absolute genius, able to understand
complex mathematical equations at will, an almost photographic memory aiding
the cause. It’s more than that though. He gets in trouble with the law though,
but when a professor (Stellan Skarsgard) at M.I.T. finds out what this janitor
is capable of, he cuts a deal with the court to earn Will’s release. One of the
requirements of the release is simple; Will must go to a psychiatrist and talk
about his past, his anger, his life. He chases one away after another until he
finally meets Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), a psychiatrist who finally
challenges him.
Like ‘Dead Poets,’ I sought out ‘Hunting’ after the tragic
passing of Robin Williams a few weeks ago. His death is still settling in weeks
later, the tributes still revealing themselves as fans continue to realize what
a true talent he was. Both for William’s performance and the entire cast,
‘Hunting is a gem, director Gus Van Sant helming a film that picked up nine
Oscar nominations, ultimately winning two; Best Supporting Actor for Williams, Best Original Screenplay for Damon and Ben Affleck. It is the best kind of drama, a story interested in the
people, the relationships, the real life drama. There are some true BIG
dramatic moments, but they never feel forced. They feel very real. This was the movie that put Matt
Damon and Ben Affleck on the map in a big way, a huge window into the talents
they were and would become. The reason for revisiting the movie was
unfortunate, but the movie itself is a gem.
The script from Damon and Affleck is a pretty perfect
jumping off point. It paints a great picture of the characters and a true
variety of characters. We’re talking full-fledged, red-blooded, 3-D characters
that act and talk like real people. That starts with Damon’s Will Hunting. We
learn as the story develops what makes Will the way he is, his checkered past
littered with violence, his life growing up in foster homes. Rocking an epic
Boston accent, Damon kills the part. Will isn’t an easy character to like
because he does such a good job pushing people away, but you’re rooting for him
just the same. You want him to figure things out, to open up, to trust some.
Damon is one of the best actors currently working in Hollywood, a true talent,
and this is definitely one of his best.
Damon’s performance is uniformly strong, but the scenes that
resonate the most are those in which he interacts with Williams’ Sean. These
scenes take place in Sean’s cluttered, homey office, a lived-in feel for sure
as Sean, a psychiatrist and professor at a junior college, gets to know the
troubled Will. These scenes develop like a chess match, two professionals
duking it out, looking for strengths and weaknesses. Why does it work? It plays
effortlessly. This isn’t acting but two guys having a conversation. It isn’t
always easy to watch, but it’s always fascinating. Will’s early “analysis” of
Sean, Sean’s shot back at his brilliant mind, Sean’s explaining about his own
past, including a great scene about the 1975 World Series and Carlton Fisk’s
famous home run, they all ring true. A true talent in Robin Williams, bringing
out the best in all his scenes.
Who else to look for? This isn’t a huge cast, but what’s
there is prime. Helping give a window into Will, again, is the script as we see
his day-to-day life, meeting his friends as they go bar-hopping, hang out on
the weekends. Affleck is a scene-stealer as Chuckie, Will’s longtime best
friend, loyal to a fault but also wanting his friend to reach out and take what
he can with his gift, his mind. Also look for Casey Affleck and Cole Hauser as
two other close friends. Minnie Driver is a gem too as Skylar, an incredibly
smart med student who clicks instantly with Will but struggles to get to know
him as he puts his walls up. As well, Skarsgard is excellent as a professor
with a similarly brilliant mind but not one on the same level as Will. An
incredibly talented cast, not a weakness in the bunch.
As I mentioned, this is a movie about the personal drama. If
I delve into the story anymore, it’s going to involve giving away some great
scenes that should come naturally in the process of watching the film. Me
talking about it would be one spoiler after another. Great story, great
characters, cool locations in and around Boston, and a pretty cool ending on so
many levels. Well worth catching up with. Highly recommended, and again, R.I.P.
Robin Williams.
Good Will Hunting (1997): *** ½ /****
I didn't care for Minnie Driver but I thought Stellan Skarsgard was nearly as good as Robin Williams in his own way.
ReplyDeleteTheir scenes together were excellent, loved their friendship/rivalry.
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