Good Will Hunting

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Good Will Hunting ★★½ 1997 (R)

Good, if predictable, first effort from screenwriting actors Damon and Affleck. Troubled, young Will Hunting (Damon) is a janitor at MIT who also happens to be an unsung mathematical genius. This gift is discovered by bigshot Professor Lambeau (Skarsgard), who must vouch for Will with the parole board by giving him weekly math sessions and taking him to a therapist to work on his anger. Naturally, only the equally troubled shrink Sean Maguire (Williams) is willing to help Hunting get beyond his blue-collar roots. But Will resists the help—not sure that he wants to leave his neighborhood and best friends behind. The Damon/Williams scenes are affecting but the southie Boston accents offer an unexpected challenge. 126m/C VHS, DVD . Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgard, Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser; D: Gus Van Sant; W: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck; C: JeanYves Escoffier; M: Danny Elfman. Oscars ‘97: Orig. Screenplay, Support. Actor (Williams); Golden Globes ‘98: Screenplay; Screen Actors Guild ‘97: Support. Actor (Williams); Broadcast Film Critics ‘97: Breakthrough Perf. (Damon), Orig. Screenplay.