Film Frat -- The Clique for Flicks

Troubled Genius

Reviewed by: Doug Kelker

Good Will Hunting

A psychiatrist trying to help a patient often makes for an excellent plot device. In Ordinary People, Timothy Hutton plays a young man who tries to kill himself over the accidental death of his brother. Hutton works through his grief with the help of therapist Judd Hirsh. Hutton won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and the film won Best Picture. On a more amusing note, Billy Crystal plays a psychiatrist coerced into helping gangster Robert DeNiro find the cause of his panic attacks in Analyze This. This movie didnÕt win any big awards, but itÕs fun to watch. In between those two movies, director Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy) and screenwriters/stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck created a film about a troubled genius matching wits with a therapist.

Matt Damon plays the aforementioned genius and title character. Will goes to MIT . . . to work as a janitor. One workday, Will sees a problem on a blackboard, posted by Professor Lambo as a challenge for his students. Lambo catches Will working on the problem; Will runs off, and Lambo looks at his work, amazed at the janitorÕs brilliance.

One afternoon, Will and his friends start a fight with their former bullies. When the cops arrive, Will assaults the arresting officer. Meanwhile, Lambo tracks down Will at his trial. Lambo strikes a deal with the judge to get Will on probation: If Will agrees to work with Lambo and goes to therapy, heÕll be released in LamboÕs custody. Will then manages to alienate several prospective therapists, until Lambo asks his former college roommate, psychology professor Sean Maguire (Robin Williams -- reminding us once again what he can do with a great role) to talk to the lad. Sean agrees, and the result is a moving film that will touch both your heart and your sense of humor.

Good Will Hunting excels because of its characters and its Oscar-winning screenplay. However, some aspects of the directing/cinematography donÕt fit in with the rest of the movie. For example, Van Sant changes the film speed during the fight sequence. The rest of the movie is shot regularly with no special effects or distorted angles. Maybe someone can shed some light on the purpose of the changing film speeds.

As written above, this is a character-oriented film. Will is a brilliant young man as well as the poster-boy of abused foster children. His past prevents him from showing Skyler (Minnie Driver) his true colors. Likewise, Sean Maguire has trouble getting over his wifeÕs death; he doesnÕt even want to go on dates anymore or even consider getting remarried. Skyler, the multidimensional love interest of the film, wants to share her love and her life with Will, if only he would allow her within armÕs length.

Good Will Hunting represents both a moving drama and an intelligent comedy. SeanÕs observations about Will and his life also apply to the real world. Most of the comedy stems from the interactions within WillÕs circle of friends. In a nutshell, this is one of the best movies in recent years. Some of my friends list it as one of their favorites. In time, you might too.

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