Critical Analysis of The Movie Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting (1997), written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, is a film that dives into the life of Will Hunting (Matt Damon) a young man who possesses an exceeding intelligence in mathematics. The story explores Will’s character development after he was incarcerated, then bailed on two terms; seeing Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) for individual therapy, and helping a renowned professor solve the unsolvable. This compelling coming-of-age classic earned a whopping total of 225 million dollars in the box office. It makes seamless connections to the real-world; discussing abandonment, selfishness and poverty, all done through the eyes of our main protagonist.

Will Hunting, the protagonist of the film, changes drastically throughout the film. Although he is initially bothered by having to see Dr. Sean Maguire, it is shown how much therapy has benefited him at the end of the story, and how it is the catalyst in his character development. Will works as a janitor at MIT. Will is constantly being challenged by people around him to live up to his potential. Will’s friend, Chuckie (Ben Affleck), even tells him that he has a, “winning lottery ticket”, but he’s “too much of a wimp to cash it in”, signifying that Will isn’t cut out to just be a janitor; he’s made for way bigger things. Will is initially characterized as brash, fixed-minded and somewhat arrogant, but we later learn that his character is solely a facade and that his own insecurities and past trauma in foster homes have contributed to this effective identity mask. Will even begins dating Skylar (Minnie Driver), a Harvard student, but pushes her away in fear that their relationship is too good to be true and that she will eventually abandon him like everyone in his life already has. Through Dr. Sean Maguire’s guidance, Will finally learns that it is not his fault and that it’s okay to be scared of his past, but it is by no means what defines him; what defines him is ultimately up to him.

Good Will Hunting shows how deep character connections and relationships can make or break a movie. In this case, the intense and intriguing backstories, interactions, and friendships keep viewers hooked throughout the story. The deep-seated connection between Will and Sean is definitely one for the books. Will is initially hesitant to speak with Sean and brushes him off thinking nobody can help him. Sean sees how broken Will is, and is determined to get to the bottom of his struggles. Will eventually begins to trust Sean and opens up to him about his darkest secrets, issues, insecurities, and even connects with him through their shared hometown in southern Boston. Their strong relationship is what ultimately encourages Will to pursue his dreams, and finally start experiencing the healing he so deeply longed for unknowingly. Another connection that highly contributed to the success of Good Will Hunting is that of Will and Skylar’s. Though their relationship becomes shaky, and Will leaves before he can get hurt, he learns that Skylar is a part of him that has been missing. Some could see this as cheesy and cliché, but this action shows how Will is finally able to break out of his shell and make his own proper decisions to better his life. These deep character connections and relationships effectively build up drama in the story and make these fictional characters more relatable.

The film equally does an exceptional job in its cinematographic efforts. Every scene, edit and shot is evidently well-thought-out and intricately planned. The movie features a multitude of shots, including close-ups, tracking shots, medium shots and many more. This wide variety gives the movie a chance to explore different perspectives in the setting. The shots even create intensity, like when a tracking shot followed one of Will’s fastball throws, or when a close-up shot of Skylar and Will kissing showed intimacy. Editing also plays a large role in the quality of this film. Everything in Good Will Hunting is very fast-paced; shots are not longer than one to two minutes each. This creates intensity and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. There are also a few notable transitions in the movie, such as some fade-ins from different objects, and even a transition from a job interview to a therapy session. This dynamic editing allows the movie to stay appealing to all audiences, and further develop the storyline. Furthermore, Good Will Hunting presents a variety of sound choices. The non-diegetic music is a great filler to pass time with, and adds intensity to actions that the characters display. Similarly, the witty dialogue adds to the drama of the movie, and makes the character’s interactions more relatable and intriguing. These efforts show how much detail and precision was put into the production of this film.

Good Will Hunting scores a nine out of ten. Its touching plot and meaningful characters make watching this film not just enjoyable, but captivating. The film is able to have a serious plotline, yet also incorporate comical remarks. The film also makes seamless references to the real world and dives into different social controversies, such as poverty, abandonment, and mental health. Everyone should watch Good Will Hunting. Although the film had some very cheesy and stereotypical moments in it, the story and its takeaway are genius; we define our own story and we are all eventually trying to find our purpose in life. Some may take longer than others, but a little help or a push in the right direction can help speed up the process. Good Will Hunting can inspire anyone trying to overcome any hardships they may be facing. It encourages people to not be afraid to look back at their past and sets an example of growth and change in order to overcome life’s many obstacles. The acting is exceptional and creates a genuine story for viewers to follow and appreciate. There is never a dull moment in the film your eyes will be locked to the screen. Good Will Hunting is an overall incredible and meaningful film, and those who've never seen it will most likely appreciate a first viewing.