Good Will Hunting

⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

The first time I watched this movie I would have said it was 8.5/10, good but not my favourite. On rewatch this movie is a classic (not a hot take at all), and they truly don't make them like this anymore.

I think it's easy to watch this movie for the first time and relate to Will, given that he is the main character. But the character motivations are hard to understand, and the revelation of the abuse he has suffered hits like a gut punch. I can't say it makes me understand his decisions, but it helps me understand the way trauma can inform poor decisions. His inability to let himself love someone is not super relatable to me, but the movie does an incredible job making him a relatable character nonetheless.

Anyways, I went on this relatability thing because my main takeaway was the genius of Robin Williams and that character. Has there ever been a more lovely man in the history of movies? The character is so genuine and warm he just jumps off the screen, and the fact that Robin Williams, the man who played this beautiful soul, ended up taking his own life is all the more devastating as you watch the movie. It's gross to say it makes the movie better, but it really amplifies the story and his connection to Will. Honestly that performance alone warrants a 10/10.

I also thought that this was a movie with a handful of memorable scene, but every time the scene would change I was like, oh ya, I love this scene! How do you like them apple, the world series, its not your fault, this film is brimming with moments that are unforgettable.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck writing this in their 20s is incredible, and kind of makes me feel like a failure. It is clearly a personal story, and having 2 Boston kids making a movie in their back yard that raises up the townies and makes fun of the MIT dweebs is great. It really feels like there is no recent comparison, an adult drama written by kids that launched them into super-stardom.

As a math undergrad myself I love the idea of a celebrity math professor who is flirting with students and walking around campus with his entourage of loyal followers like a king. Kind of the goofiest part of this movie but its awesome.