Good Will Hunting

Miramax Films | Release Date: December 5, 1997

8.6	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 638 Ratings

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PeterI.Jan 4, 2009

What a bunch of pseudo-intellectual claptrap. This is a movie written from the perspective of a college undergrad who thinks he's impossibly clever, but is really just a big dummy full of stupid ideas (e.g. the Howard Zinn and Chomsky What a bunch of pseudo-intellectual claptrap. This is a movie written from the perspective of a college undergrad who thinks he's impossibly clever, but is really just a big dummy full of stupid ideas (e.g. the Howard Zinn and Chomsky references -- are there two bigger moral imbeciles on the planet earth than those two twits?). Matt Damon's character is a witless jackass. Who could possibly care about this goon? The rest is so absurd that it's laughable. The film positively groans under the weight of its pretentions. There are few things worse than patently ignorant people showing off their "intelligence," such as it is. This is the sort of film that does serve a purpose, however. If anyone likes it, you know right away they really have no clue about what makes a good film. And they probably really enjoy congratulating themselves on how smart they are.… Expand

2 of 15 users found this helpful

TylerC.Aug 5, 2006

I waited a whole decade to finally see this movie. It was horrible. Why is it called "Good Will Hunting?" There is a scene where Will holds a man down and beats him until there is blood coming from not just the victims nose, but his mouth as I waited a whole decade to finally see this movie. It was horrible. Why is it called "Good Will Hunting?" There is a scene where Will holds a man down and beats him until there is blood coming from not just the victims nose, but his mouth as well. If I were to do that to someone, would I be considered "good"? I sure hope not.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful

RealMuthaFJul 1, 2016

Alright, I am going to go straight ahead and say that in no way do I understand how people manage to like this movie.

Absolutely everything in this film is outright terrible: the premise of two grown men going out of their way to help someAlright, I am going to go straight ahead and say that in no way do I understand how people manage to like this movie.

Absolutely everything in this film is outright terrible: the premise of two grown men going out of their way to help some guy "because he's a genius", the cliché boring love interest and friend subplots, young Damon showing his "intellect" by citing old books with a super-serious face, Affleck picking up girls (extra cringy!), Williams remembering his wife's farts (literally), Minnie Driver's story about geriatric blowjobs, Casey Affleck jerking off (not shown explicitly, thankfully), the battered "do what you really like, don't miss your true love" morale... The list could go on forever, or for about two hours, to be exact.

The only bright spot is Robin Williams (when he's not remembering his wife's farts, obviously), his performance is solid, his smile heart- warming, his wrists very hairy.

What I also don't get is why people have doubts whether Affleck and Damon actually wrote this piece of trash. I mean come on, saying that someone isn't capable of even coming up with something as bad as Will Hunting is probably the worst insult there is.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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G_Thomas_BostonApr 25, 2013

I recently had the opportunity to see Good Will Hunting for the second time. I had not seen it since its video release in 1997. It's funny how 15 years can change your opinion about a movie. I was lukewarm to the film back then, but now 15I recently had the opportunity to see Good Will Hunting for the second time. I had not seen it since its video release in 1997. It's funny how 15 years can change your opinion about a movie. I was lukewarm to the film back then, but now 15 years wiser I see it in a new light.

I had initially dismissed this film as a two hour study of a bunch of unlikeable and unbelievable people. But now it is evident that Matt Damon deserved his Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the title character, the good Will Hunting.

Damon does a yeoman's job making us believe in someone who is not only a math genius with a photographic memory, but a barroom-brawler, cynic, janitor, lover, and all-around down-to-earth working-class Joe. Damon and his compadre Ben Affleck also deserved their Oscar screenplay win for creating a character more fantastic than any from the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Robin Williams also deserved his Oscar win for having us buy his interpretation of an all-knowing beard-sporting eye-glinting joke-cracking-but-no-nonsense psychologist.

Affleck, director Gus Van Sant, and the rest of the cast merit mention as well for trying to get us to like and accept all the unappealing and implausible characters who populate this fantasy world.

All this leads me to believe that I should revisit films like Showgirls, The River Wild, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and The Greek Tycoon. Maybe I was a little too harsh in my initial assessment of these as well.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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