Good Will Hunting

Back in 1997, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were not big names in Hollywood. They appeared mostly in supporting roles in which they hardly made any impression. But then “Good Will Hunting” was released, and suddenly Damon and Affleck shot to stardom. The pair of Damon and Affleck wrote the film’s screenplay, for which they won an Academy Award for Best Writing. For some reason, at that time it was cool to discuss mathematics, formulas, and theorems. I still find it fascinating how the film captivated audiences around the world with its themes of friendship and identity that are nicely wrapped around an implied geek factor. The film was made with a modest budget of $10 million and ended up eventually grossing $230 million in worldwide box-office revenues. Indeed, the movie hasn’t lost its allure since its release in 1997.

Matt Damon plays the character of Will Hunting, who works as a janitor at the M.I.T. campus. He also works as a construction worker along with his close friends, who include Chuckie (Ben Affleck), Morgan (Cassey Affleck) and Billy (Cole Hauser).  One day while cleaning the hallways in the college, Will discovers a theorem posted on the board by Professor Gerald (Stellan Skarsgard); the theorem was an open challenge for any student to proof.  Will cracks the theorem, and Gerald is surprised to find that a janitor actually solved the theorem. Along the way, Will meets Skylar (Minnie Driver), and both develop a close relationship. Meanwhile, Will gets in trouble with the local town boys and is soon arrested. Gerald traces Will and manages to get him released from the prison on two conditions: Will and Gerald will work together on solving theorems, and Will has to undergo therapy sessions. Here, Will meets Sean (Robin Williams), a therapist, and the two begin their intense sessions.

“Good Will Hunting” is a character-driven drama that evokes some heavy, thought-provoking discussions. The film revolves around three primary characters in the film, and the script encompasses deep details about these key players. This ensures that the characters are fully developed and their connection to each other is realistic. In addition, the script never overstates the emotions developing in the characters. We mostly learn about the characters through the discussions and by analyzing their reactions. The characters are simple, yet, their life situations are completely believable, and at times complex. The narrative, while being linear, leaves a lasting emotional impression on the viewer, with its layered approach of presenting multifaceted issues through the lifelike characters.

Assisted by well-carved characters, the performances make this film unforgettable in the end. Matt Damon, playing the rebel character of a young orphan, brings an aura of unpredictability while he is on-screen. His volatile and rude behavior governs the flow of events and his ensuing interaction with Sean. It is evident that he cares little for his God-given talent, while the people around him do care about his talent. Everything gets murky for Will under his implacable responses and his sheer rejection of generosity showered by others on him. The anger forms an important component of Will’s emotional façade. Matt Damon easily transforms himself to a quiet, discontent person who possesses a rebel’s heart. Moreover, Damon’s character goes through a wide range of emotions, especially in the climax, and Damon’s performance makes him a perfect fit for the role.

But a powerful performance also comes from Robin Williams, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. As a mild-mannered therapist, Sean is an introverted individual, and his sessions with Will open the door for a self-reflective journey for both. Will challenges Sean with awkward interactions, but Sean doesn’t back down in creating a path for Will that becomes a vehicle for their interaction. The word “path” is a metaphor, because Will shuts off everything that is remotely good; his defense mechanism kicks in and the response triggered generally blinds him to seeing anything good. Surely, Will needs help, and Sean somehow manages to find a way to tackle Will that is mature and bold at times. Undeniably, the film’s meat is in the sessions between Will and Sean, in which both challenge each other. Eventually, Will opens his heart to Sean, and through Will’s cocky attitude, Sean evaluates several things in his life such as a conviction to do the right thing and to create a destiny designed by one’s actions. We learn a disturbing detail about Will’s past and the reasoning behind his scornful attitude toward people around him. We get a full understanding of Sean’s character and how he values the impact of true love in his life. In the end, Sean’s mission is accomplished when Will decides to let it go and then presents a sanguine outlook on his circumstances.

As the sessions are progressing, you can see mutual respect transpiring between the two leads, but more from Matt Damon. Obviously, when one is working with an experienced actor like Robin Williams, mutual admiration is bound to develop. Robin Williams’s dense beard brings a note of wisdom to Sean’s character. Williams’s performance is very genial, and he injects calmness and nobility into Sean’s character. I was blown away by Williams’s character, because on the surface his character appears to be a textbook therapist, but Williams comfortably transforms his character to that of a practical therapist, who has the ability to touch a person’s emotional core. Gus Van Sant’s direction perfectly balances the complexity of characters in the script by bringing out naturalistic performances from the cast.

“Good Will Hunting” is more about finding one’s identity, in which talent is just one part of the equation. It is also about coming to terms with a dreadful past, head-on, and learning something from it for the future. The characters question the essence of life and the consequences of one’s action. This is not about solving a mathematics theorem, but about solving challenges thrown to you by life and dealing with life in a mature fashion. This is one movie where I chose not to focus on distracting elements, since the film works on so many levels. Case dismissed.

Video:

“Good Will Hunting” makes its debut on Blu-ray with a nice-looking 1080p transfer encoded using an MPEG-4/AVC codec and presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The print is damage free, although specks do pop up in the opening scenes; however, after that the 1080p smoothes out. The grain is heavy, which is evident in the indoor scenes, but is never distracting. The detail is generally good, but not as sharp as another recent Lionsgate catalogue Blu-ray release, “Rounders.” Likewise, the sharpness is better in close-ups than in long or medium shots. Skin tones are realistic, although on a few occasions, I found them a bit blown out. The colors, including the blacks, are solid. Overall, this Blu-ray is a marked improvement over the previous DVD release.

Audio:

A dialogue-driven affair, “Good Will Hunting” is presented using a lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, mainly utilizing the front channels. As expected, the dialogue is consistently crisp and clear. You also hear atmospheric noises and daily hustle-bustle around the campus. But, mostly, the film’s soundtrack is serene.

Extras:

First, there is an audio commentary track by director Gus Van Sant and actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This is a dry track with a lot of silent moments. Still, we get insights about the project, screenplay, and characters from the film. Next, we get a set of eleven deleted scenes with optional commentary. Some of the deleted scenes are effective and could have been included. Up next, a regular production featurette includes a few interviews, along with behind-the-scenes footage. Following this, there is an Academy Awards Best Picture montage, followed by a music video, “Miss Misery,” and a theatrical trailer. Also, included is a standard behind-the-scenes feature that shows the film’s crew on the set. Finally, Lionsgate include a digital copy of the film on a separate disc.

Parting Thoughts:

Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting” is a mesmerizing film that consists of fantastic performances, a layered script, and an amazing cast. The film’s characters are believable and their situations are realistic. The script covers several important themes about life and varying personalities that find an immediate connection with an audience. Indeed, “Good Will Hunting” remains an important film even after all these years. The Blu-ray edition improves in all technical aspects, thereby making it highly recommendable.