Good Will Hunting

This week we read Chapter 3 of our text The Art of Watching Films, which covered Fictional and Dramatic Elements of films.  It was very timely, then, to watch the third film assignment of this class - Good Will Hunting, a film written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Matt Damon plays the role of Will Hunting, a troubled janitor at MIT, who is "discovered" by an MIT mathematics professor after solving very difficult mathematics problems on a chalkboard in the hallway of the building - and given an opportunity (OK - maybe he didn't have much of a choice) to work on math with the professor and his colleagues, while also seeing a psychologist named Sean (Robin Williams), who seems almost as troubled as Will.

Of the three films we've watched so far, I have to say that I enjoyed - and was most moved - by this film.  Will's love interest in this film is Skylar, played by Minnie Driver, who I thought was simply terrific and completely believable as someone who wanted to love (and be loved by) Will and get him to show his true self.  The rest of the cast was terrific, as well, including the role of Will's best friend, Chuckie, played by Ben Affleck.

There are a couple things that really stood out for me as I watched the movie.

First, I thought the symbolism (Petrie & Boggs, 2012, Page 59) of the painting of a lone man struggling in a small boat against the large sea was very well done.  It applied not only to the painter, Sean, as he struggled with the grief of losing his wife, but also to Will as he struggled with the internal demons inside of him that kept him from getting close to people or putting himself in a situation where someone may actually get to know him.  He had been orphaned at a young age and then abused throughout his childhood in various foster homes.  He had spent his entire adult life in trouble - usually resulting from numerous fights/assaults.  This finally resulted in a court appearance where he was to be sentenced to jail, but was released to the custody of Professor Lambeau, and ordered to get psychological help.

The symbolism of the man in the boat is referenced a throughout the film and scenes of a lone rower in the river in Boston pop up every once in a while to again show the conflict between man and the water (himself).

The internal conflict (Petrie & Boggs, 2012, Page 48)within Will was the main focus of the movie, but you also see (and feel) the internal conflict going on within several of the characters, including Sean, and Professor Lambeau.

What a relief it is when Sean and Will finally have their very emotional breakthrough and we watch both of them leave their comfort zone to pursue love (Will) and renewal (Sean).

One of the funnier moments for me came in one of the more serious moments in the film.  When Will and Sean had their first appointment in Sean's office and Will got under Sean's skin by criticizing his painting and asking him if his wife had left him, Sean went a little nuts and ended up pushing Will against the window and choking him - right next to a book in his collection titled "I'm OK - You're OK."  I found that to be more than a little ironic.

I hadn't watched this movie before, and left feeling very impressed and again, was quite moved.

References:

Petrie, D., & Boggs, J. (2012). The art of watching films. (8th ed. ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.