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GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997) Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben
Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard Directed by Gus Van Sant Nominated for nine Academy Awards:
Best Picture Best Director, Gus Van Sant Best Actor, Matt Damon Best Supporting Actor, Robin Williams (win) Best Supporting Actress, Minnie Driver Best Original Screenplay, Matt Damon and Ben
Affleck (win) Best Original Dramatic Score Best Song Best Editing Aren't films like this great? In a year when
people where sick of the hype surrounding TITANIC and the art house
flicks like L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, people flocked to see a movie about two
writers who went from rag to riches. Oh yeah, there's a little sub-plot about
a movie somewhere in that success story about a boy wonder who goes from
cleaning floors to solving mathematical problems. This sort of film is
usually a welcome attraction since it has everything a movie needs in order
to succeed. The hero with the heart of gold who hides it under anger and
bitterness, as he distrusts the world. The lovable yet stern shrink who
tackles him on and tries to break him out of his self-protective shield. The
token love interest who the hero loves but won't commit to, though she is
committed to him. The salt of the earth best friend who knows he's stuck in
life's rut, so might as well help out a pal. The villain in the guise of a
teacher, who dislikes the hero since he is everything he is not. People who
got sick over Leo screaming, I'm king of the world and being nagged
about Kim Basinger's icy bombshell performance in an underrated film, went in
droves to see this nice little piece of pure manipulation. They loved the
story and the story of the two screenwriters, who where as charming as Julia
Roberts on helium. They went from talk show to talk show, and gave magazine
interview after magazine interview about their long journey from living in
the dumps to kicking it up with the stars was what made Damon and Affleck and
overnight sensation. Unfortunately all that obnoxious noise merely covered up
a convoluted and failed story that knows how to pull the right strings. Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting that is), leads
a pretty average life for a roughneck. He has a short temper, doesn't mind
swinging back a few drinks, and whenever someone makes him angry, he gives
the poor soul a few lashings with his fists. He is also the smartest person
on the face of the planet, as he solves what appears to be impossible
mathematical problems on the boards of the college where he cleans floors.
His brain-dead friends are unaware of Will's super-genius, as he keeps them
in the dark about for fear that they would reject him (of course, stupid
people tend to remain with their own kind). Of course love is in the air, as
Skylar (Driver), catches the emotionally bottled up Will. When Will is court appointed to psychiatrist
Sean McGuire (Williams) after another run in with the law, he finally meets
his match. The good doctor is a take no nonsense fellow and really believes
that Will needs to emerge from his shell and be introduced to the world for
what it is, instead of looking at it from inside the box. Will isn't so nuts
about having therapy, as he doesn't believe in it at all. But our hero the
doctor, in all his infinite wisdom is unwilling to allow Will to whither away
in a crummy job but to use his genius for the good of the world and himself.
Will Dr. Sean McGuire reach Will Hunting in time? Will Skylar and Will live
happily ever after? Will the smarmy doctor (played by the wonderful Stellan
Skarsgard, who gave a riveting performance in BREAKING THE WAVES) who
is against Will grow up and shut up about his past failures? Will the movie
ever end? Unfortunately it takes two hours for all these questions to be
answered, but when they are there is a collective sigh of joy that you can go
and take a nap. I saw this movie while visiting Boston before the movie blew
up into the Must See Movie of '97, and I hated the experience.
It was emotionally flat and emotionally contrived, as at one point Williams
looks at Damon and says, It's not your fault (talking about the
systematic abuse Will suffered as a child). By this time I was searching for
the last of the popcorn in my bag and found nothing but a few seeds and
realizing that my shoe lace had come undone. The movie and the story simply
didn't appeal to me because it strived for my approval. What exactly is the
purpose of the movie? To show the emotionally fragile Will hiding his genius
because he was beaten up as a child? To have Will grow as a respectable
member of society? To stretch out a story that could have been wrapped up
within twenty minutes was unbearable to endure, as Will's inner struggle and
journey was watered down by haphazard writing and totally clichééd sub-plots.
The script is arrogant and self-absorbed, and Damon's performance, as well as
Affleck's hack job is laced with nothing but pride that their little script
has been picked up and became a reality. Damon conveys the same tone
throughout the entire films, and Affleck should be so lucky, but has several
different layers of bad acting. He is the John Gielgud of bad acting, and has
done absolutely nothing to improve over the years. Driver's in the mix
because a love interest is required, and Skarasgard is reduced to being a
caricature (to be fair, all the characters are). The psychology featured in
the film could have been written by anyone who paid attention to the
characters in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, and the so-called drama
is unintentionally humorous. Everything about this is ludicrous, and
knows all the roads to take on how to be ludicrous. But the real tragedy is that director Gus Vant
Sant, who directed such memorable films like TO DIE FOR, DRUGSTORE COWBOY
and MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO, is reduced to weaving together such garbage.
And think about this, the success of the movie helped him get the God awful
remake of PSYCHO off of the ground. On a good note, Williams performance has a few
commanding moments, and he is at his best when Damon isn't around, which,
sorry to say, isn't that much. Deserved of an Oscar? Not really, but at least
in a movie where emotionally connecting to the characters is rare, his
presence was appreciated. In the hands of a better writing team, the
material could have thrived to be something greater than this. I would have
loved to be one of the many who shed a tear here and there during the two
hour duration. But instead I found myself looking at my watch and wondering
if it wasn't to late to see L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. My Grade: D |