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Bennett Pollack

Dr. Whitener

English 102

February 28, 2023

Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting: An Evaluative Essay

Thought-provoking dramas have been a rare spectacle in the last decade for various

reasons; central to this is the rapidly changing culture and advancements in digital

entertainment. Nowadays, movie studios and independent producers and directors look over

the artistic merit of actors and movies to churn out bland, escapist entertainment to meet the

bottom lines of stakeholders and company executives. Audiences lack the patience to relish

the artistic value and beauty of engaging films of yesteryears. Companies have capitalized on

this opportunity by creating movie franchises that rake up billions of dollars at the box office.

However, gems such as Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting defy this premise by

demonstrating that a good movie can engage the mind and senses of the audience while also

being viscerally entertaining. The film has cemented its place cult classic because it is one of

the last few masterpieces of the late 20th century that addresses relevant real-world nuances

of modern society.

This drama, written by the stellar cast of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, tells the story

of a young man named Will Hunting, played by Damon, who possesses a genius-level

intellect but struggles to find his place in the world. Despite being made on a modest budget

of $10 million, the film grossed over $225 million worldwide, making it a commercial

success. Its success was not limited to the box office either - Good Will Hunting was a hit

with critics, garnering nine Academy Award nominations and winning two, including Best

Original Screenplay for Damon and Affleck (IMDb). The film was lauded for its poignant

storytelling, strong performances, and exploration of identity, love, and self-discovery themes
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(Ebert). This critical analysis will delve deeper into the film's cinematic achievements and

why it has remained a beloved classic for over two decades since its release.

Good Will Hunting centers around identity and the struggle to define oneself. The

main character, Will Hunting, is portrayed as a person caught between two worlds: the

intellectually elite and his tough Boston roots. Will's struggle to find his place in the world is

the central literary theme of the movie. The film depicts Will as a gifted mathematician with

a troubled past, and his journey of self-discovery is largely driven by his relationship with his

therapist, Sean Maguire. While their conversations are portrayed as crucial to Will's

transformation, one might criticize the portrayal of a white therapist as the savior of a

troubled young man of color. Additionally, the description of Will's tough-guy friends and his

abusive upbringing in a poor neighborhood in Boston might reinforce negative stereotypes

about working-class people.

Another theme in the film is the impact of relationships on one's life, with Will's

relationship with Sean and his girlfriend, Skylar, serving as examples. Through Sean, Will

confronts his past and moves towards a more fulfilling future. Similarly, in his relationship

with Skylar, Will sees himself as worthy of love and respect. However, the portrayal of

Skylar as the embodiment of the world of academia and intellectual achievement might be

criticized for reinforcing the idea that success can only be achieved through higher education.

The importance of mentorship and guidance is another theme in the movie, with

Professor Gerald Lambeau serving as Will's initial mentor. Lambeau recognizes Will's

mathematical genius and offers him a way out of his dead-end job as a janitor. However, the

character of Lambeau is portrayed as flawed, seeing Will as a means to an end rather than a

person with his dreams and desires. This can be seen as a criticism of the exploitative nature

of institutions, which use the talents of people from disadvantaged backgrounds for their

benefit without regard for their personal goals and desires.

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The acting in Good Will Hunting is undoubtedly one of its strongest features,

particularly in the performances of Matt Damon and Robin Williams. Damon's portrayal of

Will Hunting is a masterclass in nuance and range, showcasing his ability to capture the

character's intelligence, wit, and vulnerability, as well as his anger and defensiveness.

Damon's performance is powerful and convincing, making Will Hunting a relatable and

sympathetic protagonist for which the audience can root.

Robin Williams, who won an Academy Award for his role as Sean Maguire, also

delivers a standout performance. Williams brings a depth of emotion and complexity to his

character, portraying a man who is both compassionate and flawed. He can convey Sean's

pain and grief authentically and believably without ever veering into the overly sentimental

territory. The scenes between Williams and Damon are some of the most powerful in the

film, as the two actors play off each other with a level of chemistry that is rarely seen on

screen.

The supporting cast also delivers strong performances, with Ben Affleck as Will's best

friend, Chuckie, bringing a sense of humor and warmth to the role. Stellan Skarsgård is also

memorable as Professor Gerald Lambeau, who recognizes Will's potential and tries to help

him. These performances contribute to the film's overall sense of authenticity and emotional

depth.

In Good Will Hunting, Gus Van Sant's direction is characterized by its understated

and unobtrusive approach, which allows the characters and the script to take center stage.

While some might praise Van Sant's simple visual style as effective, others may view it as

uninspired and lacking in creativity. The muted color palette used throughout the film, which

reflects the story's emotional tone, could be seen as a cliché and a missed opportunity to

showcase the director's artistry. Van Sant's direction emphasizes the film's emotional

moments by giving them room to breathe, with close-ups of the actors' faces used to convey
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the depth of emotion in their performances. However, this approach may come across as

heavy-handed and manipulative, with the audience being led by the hand rather than allowed

to engage with the story on their terms.

While the therapy scenes between Will and Sean may be seen as a high point of the

film's direction, with their intimacy emphasized through the camera work, this could also be

viewed as a heavy-handed approach that robs the audience of the chance to interpret the

characters' relationship for themselves. In addition, the film's pacing may be viewed as

plodding, with the story moving steadily but never really coming to life. This is a missed

opportunity to create more dramatic tension and make the film more engaging for the

audience.

The themes of Good Will Hunting have been the subject of some controversy; critics

such as Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times imply that the film perpetuates the "white

savior" narrative. This criticism suggests that the film reinforces the idea that people of color

cannot solve their problems and need the help of a white person to succeed, as seen with the

character of Sean Maguire, a white man who comes to the aid of the young person of color,

Will Hunting (Turan).

Additionally, there have been criticisms of the acting performances in the film,

specifically the portrayals of working-class Bostonians by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune takes a critical stab by suggesting that their portrayals are

too exaggerated and unconvincing, implying that the two actors do not authentically embody

their characters (Caro).

The film's direction has also faced criticism. Critics from obscure TV guide

magazines, such as Keith Phipps of the AV club, have argued that Gus Van Sant's direction is

too subtle and understated, resulting in a lack of emotional impact (Phipps). This has led to
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concerns that the film's pacing is too slow and meandering and that it could have been edited

more tightly to create a more engaging narrative.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie and the character study of the main protagonist and the

supporting cast. It hits the bells of a long-forgotten filmmaking era that emphasized character

development and grounded realism. Regardless of the critical style of filmmaking of the film,

it helped convey the realities of life in our society, particularly self-identity, which is

prevalent nowadays more than ever. Good Will Hunting met all my expectations and

expectations of an excellent cinematic drama.

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Works Cited

Caro, Mark. “TINSELTOWN PRESENTS.” Chicago Tribune, 1997,

www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-12-25-9712250333-story.html.

Accessed 18 Feb. 2023.

Ebert, Roger. “Good Will Hunting Movie Review (1997) | Roger Ebert.”

Www.rogerebert.com, 1997, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/good-will-hunting-1997.

IMDb. “Good Will Hunting.” IMDb, 9 Jan. 1998, www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/.

Phipps, Keith. “Crazy Critics.” Script Revolution, 24 Jan. 2021,

www.scriptrevolution.com/guide/crazy-critics Accessed 18 Feb. 2023.

Turan, Kenneth. “An Uncertain Match Made in Hollywood.” The Los Angeles Times, 1997,

www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-05-ca-60701-story.html. Accessed 18

Feb. 2023.