Today’s IMDB Top 250 Guest Review comes from Drew of Drew’s Movie Reviews. Thanks for the review, Drew! 🙂 Now let’s see what he has to say about Good Will Hunting, IMDB rank 157 out of 250…
There are still some movies up for grabs if anyone wants to do a guest IMDB Top 250 review. You can find the list of remaining films HERE. See the full list & links to all the reviews that have already been done HERE. Also, if you’d like to add a link to your IMDB review(s) on your own blogs, feel free to use any of the logos I’ve used at the top of any of these guest reviews.
**I’ve received 2 remaining IMDB guest reviews to post but have a lot still outstanding. Let me know if you still wish to review the movie(s) you’ve signed up for. If not, I’ll add them back to the list of available films. Thanks!**
Synopsis
Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a mathematical genius but has no direction in his life. He gets recognized by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) who enlists help from psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams). With assistance from Sean, Will begins to get his life together.
Review
To be upfront, this was my first time watching Good Will Hunting. Shocking, I know. It was one of those movies that I kept hearing and hearing about but never really got around to watching. But thanks to the wonderful Ms. Mutant, I thought her IMDB blogathon would be the perfect time to check it out. And I must say, it is as every bit as wonderful as it was made out to be.
At the center of attention is the late Robin Williams. He is not the center of the movie but Sean Maguire is at the center of discussion whenever this film is brought up. Williams won an oscar for best supporting actor for his role and, boy, was it well deserved. Looking back Williams’ filmography, I haven’t seen many of his more serious roles. After watching this, I really need to change that. He hit with such an emotion I haven’t seen from him before. Just one more reminder how phenominal of an actor he was and his versatility to take on any role.
Matt Damon as the titular Will Hunting and Ben Affleck as his friend Chuckie Sullivan were great on screen together. It was easy to feel their connection and friendship. This even extended to the minor characters in the gang. Their camaraderie bleed through the screen and seemed so natural that I wouldn’t be surprised if they are all best friends off the screen.
For me, character-driven movies are always the hardest for me to review because with action flicks, comedy films, or horrors, there are other factors I can look at. But with dramas, it simply comes down to the actors. It’s the little moments they bring to life and make them feel genuine that make or break the film. When actors or actresses make you feel what they feel and seem so realistic and sincere, that is the sign of a great drama. Every single member of the cast manages to pour their heart and soul into the film and it is palpable. Add that to an excellent script from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and you have nothing short of success.
Good Will Hunting is a heartfelt film that manages to shine thanks to a well-penned script and great performances from Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck and the entire crew.
Rating
4/5
Trailer
Cast & Crew
Gus Van Sant – Director
Matt Damon – Writer
Ben Affleck – Writer
Danny Elfman – Composer
Matt Damon – Will Hunting
Robin Williams – Sean Maguire
Ben Affleck – Chuckie Sullivan
Stellan Skarsgard – Prof. Gerald Lambeau
Minnie Driver – Skylar
Casey Affleck – Morgan O’Mally
Cole Hauser – Billy McBride
John Mighton – Tom – Lambeau’s Teaching Assistant
Great review of a great movie. Damon and Affleck work veyr well together. Robin Williams is brilliant in his serious roles.
https://slatethesilverscreen.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/kickstarter-ageing-actors-retirement-fund/
Agreed. I far preferred Williams in his serious roles. 🙂
Thanks. Yea, they do. It’s easy to see their real life friendship come through in the film. I need to check out more of them but the few I’ve seen I’ve thought he has done a great job.
Fantastic film, but I always thought Will would get to California and Skylar would be like, “Uh, no, I don’t really want to be with a fucked up liar.”
I can’t say I’ve seen this since probably 1997 but, yeah – he was kind of a dick, wasn’t he? Still better than smarmy-face Affleck, I guess!
I can see that happening. Good Will Hunting 2!
I’ve never seen this thing… but – since I can’t leave pictures on this board, I’ll add that I think this is probably 1,000 times more appealing to me:
http://pbfcomics.com/237/
HAHA! Love this
#satanicbesties
My favorite cartoon!
#satanicbesties
It’s pretty awesome!
#creepsiesforever
HA! Yeah…. That seems more your speed. 😉
Yes!
This is a great review of a great movie, Drew! You’re right, the entire crew was great in this movie.
Also! I know I’m still doing Life is Beautiful! I’m so sorry I’m taking sooooo lonnnng. I’ll have it done by next week!
I love that movie! Looking forward to reading your review.
Me too! That’s probably why it’s taking me so long. I want to do it justice 🙂
I expect nothing less 🙂
Life is Beautiful? Also a great film. 🙂
Oh – that’s okay! I’m really not pressuring anyone. Hey – if I run out of guest reviews, it’ll force me to get off my ass & do the 100 Top 250 films I kept for myself to do. 😉
I need pressure! I’m such a procrastinator.
Ha! Okay…. I want that review on my desk by 9am! 😉
O_O *sweating
Or…. You know, whenever is good for you! 😉
Thanks, Mel! Everyone just seems to click, even all the support actors.
I watched this for the first time last year (cheeky self-plugging link) and really enjoyed it also. Williams is fantastic (“I will end you”!), I was surprised how little Affleck was in it, and even more surprised by how loveable Minnie Driver seemed. Always used to think of her as an irritating diva.
Williams is great in this. 🙂 I really should give it another watch! Not seen it since it came out…
Yea, you would think that since he wrote it, Affleck would have given himself a bigger part. She’s just so adorable! Williams totally deserved his Oscar for this.
Great review. Love this movie, so beautiful and uplifting. And Robin Williams and Matt Damon are sooo great in this.
Agreed. 🙂 I need to rewatch this one…
Thanks, Khalid. They knocked it out of the park!
This is an absolute favourite of mine and quite potentially my favourite Robin Williams role. Did you know the whole scene where he talks about his wife farting was completely ad-libbed and Matt Damon is genuinely sobbing with tears.
Yeah? That’s funny. 🙂 I really liked Williams & he was SO good in this. I need to watch it again!
I did not know that! That is amazing. If I was in the room I wouldn’t have been able to keep it together. This is up there as one of my favorites, too.
Reblogged this on Drew's Movie Reviews and commented:
Another review I did for Mutant’s IMDB Top 250, this time the coming of age, heart-tugging Good Will Hunting.
Thanks for doing this! 🙂 It’s a great film. I still miss Williams…. He was so good in this.
My pleasure! I needed to watch it anyway so it made for a good excuse. 🙂 Yea, Williams was absolutely brilliant as Sean. He is definitely someone great who left us too soon. I think I’m going to (eventually) update my Fave Five Robin Williams Roles to include this now that this is posted.
Oh yeah – this would make my top five of his roles. 🙂 I think one that gets overlooked is One Hour Photo. I really liked that film.
One that I think gets overlooked is The Final Cut. The premise is interesting and Williams still gives a great performance.
Hmm. I’ve not seen that one. Maybe I should check it out! 🙂
Williams really is the main attraction here, followed by Damon. I thought it had way too much language, but the film at its core is really beautiful. Great review, Drew!
I agree, Williams takes the cake here. There are quite a few f-bombs dropped and I can see how that can turn some people off, but like you said, deep down, this film is beautiful. Thanks, SG!
I actually rewatched Good Will Hunting not so long ago and was surprised that it was not nearly as good as I remembered. What really works nearly twenty years later though are the scenes between Matt Damon and Robin Williams, especially the one on the bench when Williams calls him out on being just a kid. So well played by both of them.
Yeah – I find a lot of movies are nowhere near as good on a rewatch years later. Probably why I don’t rewatch too many! 😉
That bench scene is probably my favorite scene from the movie. Williams’ monologue as gut wrenching and beautifully expressed.
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Great review of a great movie! I rewatched this recently and I still loved it!
I’m long overdue for a rewatch on this one… Don’t think I’ve watched it since just after it came out. I do remember thinking Williams was great.