Good Will Hunting (1997): A Movie Review
One of the few things that attract me to a movie is its title. For a long time, “Good Will Hunting” seemed like an odd name for a film for me. It was after I watched the movie that I understood that “Will Hunting” is the name of the protagonist played by Matt Damon. And “Good Will Hunting” just sums up the movie in 3 words. This title is pretty smart as it conveys to the audience that “Will Hunting”, whose behaviour is supposedly bitter, is actually true and good at heart.
This movie’s theme revolves around the consequences of child abuse. Due to his trauma from the past, Will Hunting grows out to be an angry, arrogant, stubborn, and cocky fellow. As an audience, you might love his behaviour when he’s hanging out with his friends; however, his personality is entirely different in the presence of anyone else. His defense mechanisms are clearly visible when he changes subjects, refuses to open up about his past, and mocks anyone who tries to get close to him. His brilliance gives him many opportunities to bloom, yet due to his fear of failure, fear of loss, he is unwilling to step out of his shell. It is after a series of sessions with his counsellor- Sean Maguire (played by Robin Williams) that he learns to trust again.
Personally, I found many learnings in this movie. Firstly, acting tough does not help you at all. You need to address your feelings and get them out. You need to learn to have faith in this world and yourself in order to progress in life. Another parallel story that runs between Will’s counsellor and his Math guide- Prof. Gerald Lambeau (played by Stellan Skarsgård), teaches a very important lesson: not to look down upon anyone based on one’s work. We must learn to remain down to earth, respect everyone and understand that every task is honourable.
All in all, it was an amazing movie. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have done a fantastic job on the script. It is really a powerful and sentimental film with lots of emotions. One of my favorite dialogues is when the Math Prof distinguishes between Asian Indian and American Indian by saying, “Dots not feathers!”.
I would especially recommend this movie for someone who is feeling low or deceived. I promise this will be a life-changing movie for you’ll.
Happy Watching :)
