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Movies / On DVD / Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting

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Good Will Hunting (1997)

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Reviews Counted:59

Fresh:57

Rotten:2

Average Rating:8.1/10

Consensus: Van Sant, working from Affleck and Damon's script, lends warmth and real emotion to the film's somewhat basic story.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: A South Boston whiz kid elects to clean the halls of learning rather than enter them, slumming his way through life as a janitor at MIT. But his natural ability to unravel complex equations... A South Boston whiz kid elects to clean the halls of learning rather than enter them, slumming his way through life as a janitor at MIT. But his natural ability to unravel complex equations attracts the attention of a professor who won't let him quit, a beautiful Harvard student who wants to save him, a sympathetic buddy who wants him to escape South Boston, and a counselor who encourages him. A soundly acclaimed, homegrown effort from lifelong Boston buddies Damon and Affleck, who pushed their script through development by disguising it as a suspense thriller. [More]

Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver

Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgaard, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser, John Mighton, Rachel Majowski, Colleen McCauley, Alison Folland, George Plimpton

Director: Gus Van Sant

Director: Gus Van Sant
Screenwriter: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Composer: Danny Elfman
Producer: Lawrence Bender

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jan 5, 1999

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Good Will Hunting
  • A true motion picture phenomenon, this triumphant story was nominated for 9 Academy Awards(R) -- winning Oscars for Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor) and hot newcomers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (Best Original Screenplay). The most brilliant mind at America's top university isn't a student ... he's the kid who cleans the floors! Will Hunting (Damon) is a headstrong, working-class genius who's failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will's last chance is a psychology professor (Williams), who might be the only man who can reach him! With acclaimed performances from Academy Award(R)-nominee Minnie Driver (GROSSE POINTE BLANK) and Ben Affleck (ARMAGEDDON) -- you'll find GOOD WILL HUNTING a powerful and unforgettable movie experience!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Good Will Hunting

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Towering performance by Matt Damon as a troubled working class who needs to address his creative genius elevates this drama way above its therapeutic approach, resulting in a zeitgeist film that may touch chord with young viewers the way The Graduate did

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    02/05/08
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Despite its coarse exterior, Good Will Hunting proves to be a rather positive and motivational experience.

    Full Review Source: Houston Community Newspapers | comment Comment
    05/09/07
    Gary Brown
    Gary Brown
    Houston Community Newspapers
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
    04/27/07
    Andrew Sarris
    Andrew Sarris
    New York Observer
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Can get overly sentimental at times, but Gus Van Sant's sensitive direction... and his excellent use of the city make it a hugely entertaining and effective film.

    Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
    05/26/06
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    02/09/06
    Derek Adams
    Derek Adams
    Time Out

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The film succeeds not because of an overall arc, but as a chain of smaller moments that glimmer in their minuscule perfection.

    Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment 1 Comment
    10/07/05
    Phil Villarreal
    Phil Villarreal
    Arizona Daily Star

    For the first time in his career, Van Sant is invisible as a filmmaker, simply getting out of the way of the story and his performers. The film is richer for it.

    Full Review Source: Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews | comment Comment
    06/25/05
    Moriarty
    Moriarty
    Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
    04/09/05
    Robin Clifford
    Robin Clifford
    Reeling Reviews

    ... beneath their arrogance and crass behavior, you'll find a lot of hurt and many defense mechanisms raised against a compassionless, manipulative society.

    Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
    01/15/05
    Jeffrey Overstreet
    Jeffrey Overstreet
    Looking Closer

    Uno sale del cine y se da cuenta de por qué la película recibió tanta atención.

    Full Review Source: Cinenganos | comment Comment
    06/05/04
    Alex Ramirez
    Alex Ramirez
    Cinenganos

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    04/21/04
    Dragan Antulov
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    Not a work of art or great power, but it has some moving moments.

    Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment 2 Comments
    02/27/04
    Dennis Schwartz
    Dennis Schwartz
    Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Though the movie tells a straightforward story, there are enough offbeat touches along the way to balance out its more predictable aspects.

    Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
    07/02/03
    James Sanford
    James Sanford
    Kalamazoo Gazette
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
    05/22/03
    Eugene Novikov
    Eugene Novikov
    Film Blather

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
    05/14/03
    Jeanne Aufmuth
    Jeanne Aufmuth
    Palo Alto Weekly

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
    02/08/03
    John R. McEwen
    John R. McEwen
    Film Quips Online

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/08/02
    Film Threat
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
    11/07/02
    James Rocchi
    James Rocchi
    Netflix
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
    11/06/02
    Jeff Strickler
    Jeff Strickler
    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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