Good Will Hunting (Van Sant, 1997)

[animatedude]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/

it's been 12 years! unbelievable.

my favorite scene is when Ben and Casey go to the house to pick Matt like everyday but they don't find him...bring me to tears EVERY TIME i watch it..

[fizz]

The film is an anthology of best scenes. I would find it really difficult to pick just one, but the scene that comes closest is the now famous Robin Williams monologue, where he lectures Will on love, war, pain, death, relationships, teaching - life basically. The entire film is enormously moving, but brutal all the same (the breakup between Will and the Minnie Driver character is unflinching). One of the best written, acted and directed films of all time and one of those rare, rare films that actually provides a much better second viewing. And don't even get me started on that PERFECT soundtrack (Elliott Smith, RIP).

[animatedude]

oh yeah..that scene! love it...

[sandeep]

I enjoyed the film too, I think its time for that second viewing...

[animatedude]

i can't watch this again..i'm sick of it! i've seen it dozen of times over the years.my DVD is scratched,hopefully Miramax release a better release with anamorphic transfer although the current release is more than enough in terms of extras.

[fizz]

my DVD is scratched,hopefully Miramax release a better release with anamorphic transfer although the current release is more than enough in terms of extras.

In 98 I bought the VCD (DVD's were far too expensive) and watched it till it was only useful as a cup coaster. I wish this got the Criterion treatment.

[animatedude]

my DVD is scratched,hopefully Miramax release a better release with anamorphic transfer although the current release is more than enough in terms of extras.

In 98 I bought the VCD (DVD's were far too expensive) and watched it till it was only useful as a cup coaster. I wish this got the Criterion treatment.

this is one of the rare SE releases if not the only one by Miramax which isn't in anamorphic...i'm sure it will get a better release down the line although iam happy with the current release..

[animatedude]

Terrence Malick Gave Good Will Hunting Its Ending

There used to be a rumor that William Goldman secretly wrote Good Will Hunting, but here's an even better story that's on the record: Terrence Malick suggested its ending. Matt Damon revealed that after he finagled a meeting with the reclusive Malick to discuss the script, the director suggested a change to the story's romantic happy ending, which found Damon and Minnie Driver leaving town together. "In the middle of the dinner, he said, 'I think it would be better if she left and he went after her.' And Ben [Affleck] and I looked at each other. It was one of those things where you go, 'Of course that's better.'" At least, it was a better note than Gus Van Sant's original insistence that Affleck's character should be killed: "Gus came down and said 'I want to do a draft where Chucky, Ben's character, dies on the construction site.' And Ben and I were just mortified. 'What are you talking about?' 'I want him to get crushed like a bug.' We said 'Gus what are you talking about? You cant just fucking smush Ben. That's a terrible idea.'"

lol...13 years now and we still get juicy gossip from this movie.ah...we all love Good Will Hunting,dont we? 

[fizz]

If that is really true, then you've got to ask instead, how can you not love Malick?

[animatedude]

lol i just imagined Affleck and Matt staring at each other going "Of course that's better!" but dude would you go after Minnie Driver? fuck this shit! even Matt broke up with her on TV! lol

for me, the best part of Good Will Hunting -and maybe it could've been the best end too-is when Ben and Casey go to the house to pick up Matt like everyday but they don't find him...that scene breaks my heart i almost cried so many times before that scene even starts it's just so moving..

 

[shariqq]

After being reminded over the last weekend by two good friends that I had not seen this movie, I remedied it immediately.

Result: The satisfaction at having watched one of the best movies ever. Fulfilling every expectation and living up to every praise that it deserves, Good Will Hunting is a wonderful experience of a movie that I can compare to Shawshank Redemption and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Fantastic scene follow one after the other. 3 wonderful performances (Damon, Williams, Skarsgård) and a host of good support work.

The scenes mentioned in the posts above: the Robin Williams monologue at the park, the last time we see Ben Affleck knock on Damon's door, the fight between Driver and Damon - they are all instantly etched into the mind. To these scenes, I will also add my 3 favorite scenes:
- Robin Williams narrating the baseball game story
- the fight between Robin Williams and Stellan Skarsgård
- "It's not your fault".

I have two issues with the movie though.
1) I HATED Minnie Driver. She looks fugly and her acting is an unwelcome distraction.
2) "It's not your fault". This scene felt deliberate, hokey and melodramatic. But even then, it connects. We, as audience, have invested so much in both the main actors to by then really be pulled into that scene. And I confess - I cried when Matt Damon's character breaks down (much like most men, I never cry in movies). So the scene is effective, but it still feels deliberate.

I will order the Collector's Edition DVD of this movie with my next set of purchases. Give it a few months, and watch it again.

My Rating --> 4.5 of 5

 

[ozzylogic]

An excellent movie. Acquired it on HD to show the Missus.

[fizz]

Most here will also confess...as much as you liked it, prepare for it to grow on you. My advice, watch it again this time next year. You will have even greater appreciation and insight into the characters. Bonus: Get the soundtrack, also one of the best of all time!