The American film “Good Will Hunting” is on the list of two hundred and fifty best films of all time according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) - the largest database of cinema. This is a piercing story with deep philosophical implications, “wrapped” in the shell of a youth drama and at first glance reflecting only a typical American dream.
The film was marked by many nominations for prestigious film awards, winning some of them, and also received favorable reviews from critics.
Plot
The film is a kind of dedication to the classics of American contemporary literature - William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. Clever Will Hunting (actors hereinafter) is a dramatic film about a twenty-year-old geek who lives in Boston and works as a room cleaner at the university. Not finding proper use of his talent and sharp mind, he continually gets into unpleasant situations. After another street fight, he is released from the police and taken under guardianship by a professor of mathematics, impressed by the guy's abilities for this exact science. However, he puts two conditions before him - regular and compulsory attendance at his classes, as well as a psychotherapist. Sessions at the doctor begin with distrust and problems, but gradually turn into a strong friendship between the student and the mentor.
About the script
The persons who wrote the script for the film “Good Will Hunting” are actors, and now they are very famous. In this case, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck made a good duet not only on the screen. According to the actors themselves, they started writing the script only because they were not taken anywhere else. So, without ambition, without suspecting it, they created one of their best projects, for which at the very beginning of their careers they received an Oscar. It is noteworthy that the eldest of the Affleck brothers and Damon have been friends since childhood, moreover, their families are related to each other by distant relatives.
The script for the film was appreciated by many film studios, but they were not in a hurry to embody it on the screen. One of the main conditions of its creators assumed their participation in the main roles. Given the fact that B. Affleck and M. Damon were not yet known at that time, and in the acting piggy bank they had only a few episodic roles, the enterprise threatened to be a failure. The guys believed the producers of Miramax and did not fail. Young actors literally woke up famous, job offers fell on them, as if from a cornucopia.
Good Will Hunting: Matt Damon
Matt Damon's character is Will Hunting. It is essentially the core of the entire film. Already not a teenager, but not yet an adult. Will is in an intermediate position. He absolutely does not need the talent of a mathematician making his way out of it. The only thing he would like is a normal life, that he would simply be taken and placed in it, and explained that it was so right. Overcome by internal demons, he tries to become the master of his life, and the psychotherapist helps him in this.
Good Will Hunting: supporting actors
Fulfilling the main condition of the young actors, Miramax approved Ben Affleck for the role of the friend of the main character Chucky Sullivan. The character is not allocated much screen time, but the future Hollywood star was able to show herself. Just a year after filming in this film, he was invited by Michael Bay to his fantastic film “Armageddon”. We also note that the picture introduced the audience to another representative of the Affleck family. The younger brother of Ben Casey (pictured above) played the role of Morgan O'Maley.
The images of Will's mentors - Professor Gerald Lambo and psychotherapist Sean Maguire - were performed by Stellan Skarsgård (photo below) and Robin Williams, respectively. Some of the most famous actors of our time decorated the film with their presence, showing the youth what a real acting game should be. By the way, they did not remain without awards either.
Another supporting role went to the English actress, singer and songwriter Minnie Driver. Working as Will's girlfriend is a good start for her, followed by several roles in romantic comedies. However, her vocation was television.
Awards and nominations
The debut project of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the film "Clever Will Hunting," was highly praised by critics and won the most prestigious awards.
So, in 1998, the tape received 9 nominations for the Oscar, in two of which it won. The figurine went to R. Williams, the best supporting actor, and screenwriters.
At the Berlin Film Festival, Matt Damon received a silver bear for his outstanding sole contribution. The director of the film, Gus Van Saint, was nominated for a golden statuette.
For the script for the film "Good Will Hunting" actors M. Damon and B. Affleck received the Golden Globe. Two prestigious awards in this category at once could be safely regarded as recognition of talent and complete success. M. Damon and R. Williams were nominated for the title of best dramatic actor and supporting actor.
After filming in the project, Stellan Skarsgård received the European Film Awards for his great contribution to the development of world cinema.