GOOD WILL HUNTING [1997 / 2011] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Wonderfully Original! Double Oscar® Winner!
In an Oscar® winning performance, Robin Williams [‘The Birdcage’ and ‘Dead Poets Society’] alongside Matt Damon [‘The Bourne Trilogy’ and ‘The Departed’] in a motion picture triumph that received an Oscar® nomination for Best Picture of the year. The most brilliant mind at America’s top university isn’t a professor . . . he’s the guy who cleans its floors, Will Hunting [Matt Damon] in an Oscar® nominated role. But Will Hunting is also a headstrong, penniless guy failing the lessons of life and love with his wealthy girlfriend Skylar Oscar® nominated Minnie Driver. Facing a jail sentence after one too many run-ins with the law, Will Hunting’s, fate lies in the hands of his therapist Dr. Sean Maguire [Robin Williams]. Who might be the only man able to help him see his true potential? Also starring Ben Affleck [‘The Town’ and Armageddon’] as Chuckie Sullivan, who co-wrote this Oscar® winning original screenplay with Matt Damon. ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ is the inspiring, emotional charged film that has everyone talking.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1997 Awards Circuit Community Awards: Win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Robin Williams. Win: Best Original Screenplay for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Nominated: Best Motion Picture. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Matt Damon [Runner-Up]. Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Minnie Driver. Nominated: Best Director for Gus Van Sant. Nominated: Best Film Editing for Pietro Scalia. Nominated: Best Original Score for Danny Elfman. Nominated: Best Cast Ensemble. 1997 National Board of Review, USA: Win: NBR Award for Top Ten Films. Win: Special Achievement Award for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for special achievement in filmmaking. 1998 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Robin Williams. Win: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Nominated: Best Picture for Lawrence Bender. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Matt Damon. Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Minnie Driver. Nominated: Best Director for Gus Van Sant. Nominated: Best Film Editing for Pietro Scalia. Nominated: Best Music, Original Song for Elliott Smith for the song "Miss Misery." Nominated: Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Danny Elfman. 1998 Golden Globes: Win: Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Drama. Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Matt Damon. Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Robin Williams. 1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Win: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Robin Williams. Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Matt Damon. Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Minnie Driver. Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Cast for Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgård and Robin Williams. 1998 American Cinema Editors: Nominated: Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film for Pietro Scalia. 1998 Berlin International Film Festival: Win: Silver Berlin Bear Award for Outstanding Single Achievement for Matt Damon for his screenwriting and acting in the film. 1998 BMI Film & TV Awards: Win: BMI Film Music Award for Danny Elfman. 1998 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Win: Critics Choice Award for Best Original Screenplay for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Win: Critics Choice Award for Breakthrough Artist for Matt Damon. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Picture. 1998 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Win: Most Promising Actor for Matt Damon. 1998 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Picture. 1998 Directors Guild of America: Nominated: DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Gus Van Sant. 1998 Florida Film Critics Circle Awards: Win: Newcomer of the Year for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for their screenwriting. 1998 Humanitas Prize: Win: Feature Film Category for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. 1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing for Music (Foreign & Domestic). 1998 MTV Movie + TV Awards: Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Movie. Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance for Matt Damon. Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss for Matt Damon and Minnie Driver. 1998 Online Film & Television Association: Win: OFTA Film Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Picture for Lawrence Bender. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Actor for Matt Damon. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Ensemble. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Drama Picture for Lawrence Bender. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Drama Actor for Matt Damon. 1998 Online Film Critics Society Awards: Nominated: Best Screenplay for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. 1998 PGA Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures for Lawrence Bender. 1998 Satellite Awards: Win: Golden Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture in a Drama for Lawrence Bender. Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Matt Damon. Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Robin Williams. Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Drama for Minnie Driver. Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Director for Gus Van Sant. 1998 Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Picture [8th place]. 1998 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. 1999 Awards of the Japanese Academy: Nominated: Best Foreign Film. 1999 Empire Awards, UK: Nominated: Best Film. 1999 London Critics Circle Film Awards: Win: British Supporting Actress of the Year for Minnie Driver. Nominated: Screenwriter of the Year for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. 2018 20/20 Awards: Nominated: Felix Award for Best Director for Gus Van Sant. Nominated: Felix Award for Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams. Nominated: Felix Award for Best Original Screenplay for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Nominated: Felix Award for Best Drama Score for Danny Elfman. Nominated: Felix Award for Best Picture.
FILM FACT No.2: The Boston Public Garden bench on which Will and Sean sat for a scene in the film became a temporary shrine after Robin Williams' death in 2014. Robin Williams' performance was marked as his best performance including the bench scene (which was used as a place to lay flowers in tribute after Robin Williams' death) and the scene when Dr. Sean Maguire tells Will Hunting that the physical abuse is not his fault. Many cite the "It's not your fault" scene as one of Robin Williams' best.
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, John Mighton, Rachel Majorowski, Colleen McCauley, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser, Matt Mercier, Ralph St. George, Rob Lynds, Dan Washington, Alison Folland, Derrick Bridgeman, Vik Sahay, Shannon Egleson, Rob Lyons, Steven Kozlowski, Minnie Driver, Jennifer Deathe, Scott William Winters, Philip Williams, Patrick O'Donnell, Kevin Rushton, Jimmy Flynn, Joe Cannon, Ann Matacunas, George Plimpton, Francesco Clemente, Robin Williams, Jessica Morton, Barna Moricz, Libby Geller, Chas Lawther, Richard Fitzpatrick, Frank Nakashima, Chris Britton, David Eisner, Bruce Hunter, Robert Talvano, James Allodi, Michael Arthur (uncredited), Steve Bertorelli (uncredited), Nancy Carlsson-Paige (uncredited), Bobby Curcuro (uncredited), Kent Damon (uncredited), Riva Di Paola (uncredited), Paul Essiembre (uncredited), Jed Griswold (uncredited), Christian Harmony (uncredited), Robert Harrell (uncredited), Elisabeth Anne Hughes (uncredited), Harmony Korine (uncredited), Thomas Lundy (uncredited), Paul McGillicuddy (uncredited), Michael A. Myles (uncredited), Daniel Olsen (uncredited), Dale Resteghini (uncredited), Brian Rivers (uncredited), Gerry Speca (uncredited), Stephen Trouskie (uncredited) and Jay Yoo (uncredited)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Producers: Bob Weinstein, Chris Moore, Harvey Weinstein, Jonathan Gordon, Kevin Smith, Lawrence Bender, Scott Mosier and Su Armstrong
Screenplay: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Composer: Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Jean-Yves Escoffier (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 126 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: MIRAMAX / STUDIOCANAL / LIONSGATE Home Entertainment
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: The film ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ [1997] in essence, is an ordinary story told really well. Taken as a whole, it follows a traditional narrative path, leaves the audience with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and never really challenges or surprises us. But it's intelligently written and especially with dialogue that is occasionally brilliant, it is also strongly directed, and nicely acted. So, while ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ is far from a late-year masterpiece, it's a well worthwhile entertainment throughout the film.
‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ about the unlikely friendship that develops between a world-weary veteran and a cocky young man. The formula for the film is of the principals learn from each other as they slowly break down their barriers on the way to a better understanding of life and their place in it.
Will Hunting [Matt Damon] is a troubled individual. As a child, he was the frequent victim of abuse. An orphan, he was in and out of foster homes on a regular basis. Now, not yet 21 years old, he has accumulated an impressive knowledge of life through books. Unfortunately, Will Hunting has a short temper and any little incident can set him off like a spark in a tinder box. But Will Hunting is a mathematical genius with a photographic memory and the ability to conceive simple solutions to complex problems. While working as a janitor at MIT, he delights in anonymously proving theorems on the math building's hall blackboards. Then, one evening, his anonymity is shattered when Professor Gerald Lambeau [Stellan Skarsgård] catches him at work. Will Hunting flees, but Professor Gerald Lambeau tracks him down. Unfortunately, by the time the professor finds him, Will Hunting is in jail for assaulting a police offer.
The judge agrees to release Will Hunting under two conditions: that he spends one day a week meeting with Professor Gerald Lambeau and that he spends one day a week meeting with a therapist. Eventually, Will Hunting manages to scare off a string of therapists; Professor Gerald Lambeau seeks out his estranged friend from college, Dr. Sean Maguire [Robin Williams], a teacher at Bunker Hill Community College, agrees to take the case. After a rocky start, the two forms a sort of rapport and Will Hunting begins to explore issues and emotions he had walled up behind impregnable armour.
Slowly, Will Hunting advances his self-awareness in sessions with Dr. Sean Maguire, who is the survivor of a tough Southie upbringing is still struggling with his own loss. Soon Dr. Sean Maguire is able to help Will Hunting realize that he's not betraying his friends by using his gifts to enlarge his world. Along the way, Will Hunting falls in love with Harvard pre-med student Skylar [Minnie Driver]. Eventually Skylar and Dr. Sean Maguire teach Will Hunting that the walls he built to protect himself from pain are no longer needed and are in fact getting in his way and to be able to move on with his life.
Director Gus Van Sant [‘Drugstore Cowboy’ and ‘To Die For’] culls genuine emotion from his actors, and these results in several affecting and powerful scenes. There's edginess to some of the Dr. Sean Maguire and Will Hunting therapy sessions, and the off-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Minnie Driver (who became romantically linked while making this film) translates effectively with this film, especially with the Will Hunting and Skylar relationship is electric.
Likewise, the companionability of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck is apparent in the easy-going nature of Will Hunting and Chuckie Sullivan's friendship. Many of the individual scenes are strong enough to earn ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ a definite recommendation. ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ is touching, without being sentimental, and feel-good without appearing contrived; this is one shrink-wrapped drama that's worth unpacking. ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ remains largely schmaltz free, with a script that zings with snappy one-liners and a couple of killer soliloquies.
At the end of the film, they inform us that the film is dedicated to the memory of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs.
GOOD WILL HUNTING MUSIC TRACK LIST
BIG STRONG MAN (Arranged by Brian Warfield) [Performed by The Wolfe Tones]
BAKER STREET (Written by Gerry Rafferty) [Performed by Gerry Rafferty]
WE STILL NEED MORE THAN ANYONE CAN GIVE (Written by Daniel Goffey, Gaz Coombes and Michael Quinn) [Performed by Supergrass]
RUNAWAY (Written by Del Shannon and Max Crook) [Performed by Del Shannon]
Grand Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 30/D.617 (Written by Franz Schubert) [Performed by Dana Muller and Gary Steigerwalt]
Six Grandes Marches, Op. 40/D.819, No. 5 (Written by Franz Schubert) [Performed by Dana Muller and Gary Steigerwalt]
AS THE RAIN (Written Jeb Loy Nichols) [Performed by Jeb Loy Nichols]
HANDLE ON MY HEART (Written by Minnie Driver)
FISHERMAN’S BLUES (Written by Mike Scott and Steve Wickham) [Performed by The Waterboys]
TOMMY BHETTY’S WALTZ (Traditional) (Arranged by Altan and P.J. Curtis) [Performed by Altan]
HEART & SOUL (Written by Ivan Drever and Duncan Chisholm) [Performed by Wolfstone]
MISS MISERY (Written by Elliott Smith) [Performed by Elliott Smith]
IF I HAD THE LAST DREAM IN THE WORLD (Written by Joe Liles) [Performed by Northeast Connection]
ROOM (Written by Dan Lander) [Performed by Dan Lander]
BOYS BETTER (Written by Courtney Taylor-Taylor) [Performed by The Dandy Warhols]
NO NAME #3 (Written by Elliott Smith) [Performed by Elliott Smith]
WHY DO I LIE? (Written by Jill Cunniff) [Performed by Luscious Jackson]
SOMEBODY’S BABY (Written by Jackson Browne and Danny Kortchmar) [Performed by Andru Donalds]
SAY YES (Written by Elliott Smith) [Performed by Elliott Smith]
PEOPLE (Written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill)
BETWEEN THE BARS (Written by Elliott Smith) [Performed by Elliott Smith]
HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (Written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb) [Performed by Al Green]
ANGELES (Performed by Elliott Smith) [Performed by Elliott Smith]
DANNY BOY (Written by Frederick Edward Weatherly)
AFTERNOON DELIGHT (Written by Bill Danoff) [Performed by Starland Vocal Band]
Blu-ray Image Quality – MIRAMAX and LIONSGATE Home Entertainment presents the film ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ with a wonderful 1080p image and is enhanced with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This print looks very good when compared to the previous inferior DVD release. There is no DNR [Digital Noise Reduction] to hinder the films image, but does show carrying a thin layer of grain that never becomes obtrusive. Black levels are also very good. Colours also look also very good and strong for a film of this age due to the camera lenses used, and especially with the help of the brilliant professional Jean-Yves Escoffier and his cinematography. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – MIRAMAX and LIONSGATE Home Entertainment brings us for this film ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ with just one 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. This is a front heavy experience which mainly uses the front channels. Ambient and atmospheric effects also utilize the surround effects with the audio tracks in a subtle but very effective. Danny Elfman’s music score shines here the most and at certain points in the film really enhances what you see on the screen. Dialogue is very clean and crisp throughout the film and especially helped via the front sound speakers.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary with Director Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck: As the film starts we are introduced individually with first up is Ben Afflick, who informs us that he is the co-screenwriter and co-actor with the film ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING,’ next up to introduce themselves is Matt Damon, who also is the co-screenwriter and co-actor with the film, and last to introduce themselves is Director Gus Van Sant to discuss the film in-depth. When we first see Matt Damon mopping the floor, Ben Affleck comments that this was the first time ever that Matt Damon had ever mopped a floor or has never cleaned his home. When you see Matt Damon do his long monologue in front of Minnie Driver, first of all this was filmed in a bar in Toronto, whereas the setting of the film is in Boston, secondly when matt Damon wrote the screenplay, he knew off this speech off by heart, but when it came to filming that scene, he kept fluffing his lines and they had to do lots of takes to get it all right. When Matt Damon meets Robin Williams, and they make a comment about that while filming that scene they kept farting and had to do several takes because Matt Damon and Robin Williams could not stop laughing, which I should image really annoyed the director. When Matt Damon and Minnie Driver go to the dog track racing, what you actually witness is that Minnie Driver actually put a bet on a dog that she fancied the name and as you saw it won and you see the amazing reaction of Minnie Driver that they decided to capture of the moment. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck talk about their pet project and mainly talk about the players who helped make the film, as well as the authenticity of having many local people and local locations utilized for this picture. Listening to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reminisce about the film that for all intents and purposes, made them both the stars they are today. Sometimes throughout the audio commentary, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck tended at certain points talk a lot of waffle and some of what they talk about is small talk and was very boring. Director Gus Van Sant tends to be very matter of fact, whereas Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are very free flowing with their comments on the film in general and especially relating to the background on their pet project, especially from the screenwriting perspective, as well as casting and what it was like to work with Robin Williams. But they also comment on the performance of the real life brother Casey Affleck. But overall this audio commentary if oaky, but have heard far better ones, as again half the time they were just rambling about this that did not interest me and of course this is just my personal feeling about this audio commentary, so check it out and see if you found the audio commentary much more interesting.
Special Feature: Deleted Scenes [1997] [480i] [1.37:1] [20:38] Here we get to view eleven deleted scenes and they are as follows: St. Patrick’s Day Parade; Bar – Cat Joke; Will Does Maths; Sean On Roof At Night; Will and Lambeau Do Math; Will Sees Hypnotist; Lambeau With Recruiters; Chuckie Meets Recruiters; Skylar and Chuckie Talk; Construction Site and “Pudge Frisk” Card. You have the choice with Optional Commentary by Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. On top of all that, you can either play each deleted scene separately or Play All.
Special Feature: Production Featurette [1997] [480i] [1.37:1] [6:39] Minnie Driver [Skylar], Robin Williams [Dr. Sean Maguire], Ben Affleck [Chuckie Sullivan], Matt Damon [Will Hunting], Lawrence Bender [Producer] and Gus Van Sant [Director] briefly discuss aspects of the film and is interspersed with clips from the film and behind-the-scenes film footage in this vintage EPK featurette. They basically tell us about the story and characters they play, plus a few production basics. This promotional Production Featurette is basically like a long advert and nothing more.
Theatrical Trailer [1997] [1080p] [1.37:1] [2:31] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING.’ But what a shame they could not of found a trailer with the right aspect ratio.
Special Feature: Academy Awards Best Picture Montage [1997] [1080p] [1.37:1] [6:39] For something unusual, we get to view a sort trailer film reel that was ran at the Oscars to represent the film to the audience. It’s not especially interesting, but it’s kind of fun as an archival piece.
Special Feature: "Miss Misery" Music Video [1997] [480i] [1.37:1] [3:17] Here we get to view a music video for "Miss Misery" performed by Elliot Smith. One thing about this music video, it will never win any plaudits, as it is very boring.
Special Feature: Behind the Scenes [1997] [1080p] [1.37:1] [3:36] This is nothing more than a montage of filming behind-the-scenes footage. It also takes us looking round the set or sets, as it were, as we also visit a number of locations. These let us glimpse the shooting in various stages. It’s brief and perfunctory but reasonably interesting to view.
Finally, ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ shows us Matt Damon, gives a solid performance as Will Hunting. Minnie Driver adds another strong performance to a growing resume, and it's refreshing that she was allowed to keep her British accent rather than having to attempt an American one. The outstanding performance of the film belongs to Robin Williams, whose Dr. Sean Maguire is sad and wise, funny and sombre and arguably the best dramatic work in the actors long career, who of course is very sadly missed. Robin Williams deservedly won at the 1998 Academy Awards® for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Robin Williams. Adequate support is provided by Ben Affleck and Stellan Skarsgård. ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ to some critics felt it was completely predictable. But meeting expectations and following a familiar path aren't always bad things in a film, provided the film accomplishes those goals with a modicum of style and an attention to detail. ‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ does both, and as a result, earns a definite rating with the "good" in the title. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
