Movie Review Brandon Moseley

Good Will Hunting

Throughout the movie ‘Good Will Hunting’, it introduces multiple characters and masters

the audiences connection with them. Robin Williams plays ‘Sean’, the therapist that attempts to

breakthrough to ‘Will’ (Matt Damon). Sean is a former Harvard graduate who is introduced

while teaching as a professor at a community college. Sean finds common ground with Will

through their upbringing and discontent for “silver spoon” people around them. Sean also lost the

love of his life, his wife, years ago and seems to have not healed in the slightest. The first session

with Will consists of Will’s typical routine, breaking down the would-be personal therapist. Will

has previously destroyed seven other therapists, who in turn refused to work with him. Sean

allows Will to attempt knocking down his confidence, with little to no reaction Sean maintains

thick skin and even agrees with Will on certain pessimistic comments. I believe this begins to

break down Will’s wall, which is his biggest fear. Will finally comes to a painting, and realizes

his wife is the trigger. Sean impulsively reacts with violence, but that does not ruin the

relationship. Both being from South Side Boston, there became a primitive understanding with

Will leaving with the slight upper-hand in the mind game. The next scene shows Sean

contemplating life and how to best Will to gain his respect. The key to his next move becomes

based around enlightening Will on what he does not know. He refuses to be intimidated by Will

and shows respect to the knowledge Will has. Over the following months he grows close to Will,

showing him it is more than a job and he truly does want the best for him. He finally breaks

through Will’s final wall and helps him become the man he always had the potential to be. The

steps he took as a leader were critical to helping Will. He spent months connecting with Will and
Movie Review Brandon Moseley

affect his view on the issue. Most importantly he found common ground and showed respect to

Will, always listening to his thoughts.

Will is the key role in the show, but he also spends the majority of the movie displaying

poor leadership qualities with occasional positive decisions. He is born with and uncanny ability

to recall information. He works as a janitor for MIT where he spends his free time solving

equations that take others years. Doing this, grabs the attention of an MIT professor who uses the

opportunity of bailing Will out to set him up with a way to work together. Will is a ‘Southie’ that

spends every day with the same group of three friends he has had his whole life. The friend

group spends an extended amount of time drinking, fighting, and finding trouble. Will many of

the times is the leader of they trouble they find. Will is one of two main leaders in the group so

they typically follow his lead. The issue is Will was born with never before seen intelligence and

can get out of the majority of the trouble he gets in. Alongside that, he hangs out with friends

that are limited potential wise, making Will feel as though he must prove his dedication as a

‘Southie’. In other ways, Will does anything and everything for his friends. When his friends are

in trouble or embarrassed Will steps in for not only support, but also to flip the script.

A role I found majorly important in Will’s life was his best friend Chuckie, the other

leader of the friend group. Chuckie appears to be the oldest and while he will participate in the

trouble, he does not typically start it throughout the movie. Possibly the most critical scene in the

movie comes after a demolition job on the hood of a truck. Will and Chuckie sit there by

themselves discussing both of their futures and where they see it going. Will begins to discuss

the idea of a lifetime of construction jobs, watching their sons play little league and living near

each other. Chuckie quickly puts Will in check being blunt with Will. This scene is crucial

because it is the only time you see Will be put in check by a friend and more than that being
Movie Review Brandon Moseley

proven wrong and enlightened by a friend. Chuckie illustrates that there is no jealousy from his

friend group, more so just the desire for Will to become a vastly successful man in the world. In

his eyes Will is sitting on a “winning lottery ticket” that he has simply refused to cash in.

Chuckie feels almost disrespected. Chuckie is not the loudest voice, but he uses his relationship

with Will at the proper times to guide him on the right track. He knows his role and attempts to

make a positive impact in the situations he is presented with.