FILM #2 - GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)

Film #2 - GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)

Dir. Gus Van Zant
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck

This was first released when I started secondary school. It was the film that put Affleck and Damon on the map by giving them the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. And rightly so, considering the films that it was up against. 

The first half of the film was great. The bar scene where Will (Damon) steps in to save his friend Chuckie (Affleck) is hilarious. I was hoping the film would be filled with more scenes like these, where he uses his gift for the greater good. But as the film went on I realised it was about making choices and Will Hunting chose not to do that.

There was a great casting choice in Robin Williams. This film was made not long after Mrs Doubtfire and Aladdin where Williams had become known for his funnier roles apart from the occasional serious film like Dead Poets Society. I think this is where he started to branch out to show what he could do as a serious actor. And he pulled it off. As did Damon and Affleck, although I think if they had hired another two people to play those characters, it wouldn’t have made much difference. Their efforts were in the script. And fair play to them.

RATING 7/10