Good Will Hunting

About Good Will Hunting

Released in 1997, Good Will Hunting is an American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The film follows Will Hunting, a janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who is in fact an unrecognized genius that can solve complex mathematical problems unconsciously scribbled on a blackboard.

Making / Production

Good Will Hunting came to fruition due to the combined writing efforts of childhood friends, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The film was directed by Gus Van Sant and produced by Lawrence Bender. Executed under the banner of Be Gentlemen and Miramax, production took several months, shooting mostly in Boston, Massachusetts.

Actors

• Matt Damon as Will Hunting: A troubled genius who didn’t acknowledge his intellect personally but fearlessly portrayed the character.
• Robin Williams as Sean Maguire: Played the role of a therapist who helps Will confront his demons. Williams brought a profound, touching performance.
• Ben Affleck as Chuckie Sullivan: Will’s best friend, Affleck displayed a complex understanding and support for his friend.
• Stellan Skarsgård as Professor Gerald Lambeau: Played the role of an MIT professor who recognizes Will's talent and tries to mentor him.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title of the movie came from a story that Matt Damon's mother named him after a famous painting by her favorite artist, Sir Thomas More.
• Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote the screenplay as young, struggling actors in Hollywood.
• Robin Williams won his first and only Oscar for his role in this film.

Awards

The film was a major success, landing nine Academy Award nominations and winning two: Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams and Best Original Screenplay for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Quotes

• "You don't know about real loss, because it only occurs when you've loved something more than you love yourself." - Sean Maguire
• "I gotta see about a girl." - Will Hunting

Music, Soundtrack

• "Miss Misery" - Elliott Smith
• "Between The Bars" - Elliott Smith
• "Why Do I Lie?" - Luscious Jackson