GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)

Essential Film of the Day #14

GOOD WILL HUNTING

1997 • Gus Van Sant

Writers: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon

Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser

Cinematography: Jean-Yves Escoffier

Music: Danny Elfman

Probably the highlight of Robin Williams' career as it earned him an Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor. Will Hunting is a young genius who works as a janitor at MIT and spends his free time solving complex mathematical equations. When Will is arrested for assaulting a police officer, he is sentenced to therapy with a gifted psychologist, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), who tries to help him overcome his troubled past and unlock his full potential. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its powerful performances, especially by Damon and Williams. The film's themes of personal growth, the importance of relationships, and the struggle for self-discovery resonated with audiences, making it a commercial and critical success. Good Will Hunting won two Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actor (Williams) and Best Original Screenplay (Damon and Affleck), and was nominated for nine other Oscars, including Best Picture. Williams' tragi-comic performance is especially poignant when considering the circumstances of his death.

"You're not perfect, sport, and let me save you the suspense: this girl you've met, she's not perfect either. But the question is whether or not you're perfect for each other."