Classic 90s Move: “Good Will Hunting”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Michael Corcoran.

Movie Title: Good Will Hunting

Year: 1997

Writers: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

Lead Actors: Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgard, Minnie Driver

Director: Gus Van Sant

IMDB Plot Summary: Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT, has a gift for mathematics but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 90s Movies: This is a classic 90’s movie to me for a few different reasons. While the writing credit earned Matt and Ben an Oscar for best original screenplay, their performances launched both their careers to A-list status. If one were to scan the ages of those who have won an Oscar for their writing efforts, it would be found that Matt and Ben were way below the average age of past winners. For writers to hit the literary jackpot so soon is legendary.

On a more personal level, this movie was released the same year I graduated from high school and Matt and Ben were nothing short of inspirational, allowing me to find satisfaction in writing.

1997 was far and away the best year for movies during the decade of the 90’s. Good Will Hunting was in great accompany along side Titanic, As Good As It Gets, Life is Beautiful, L.A. Confidential and the list goes on and on!

My Favorite Moment In The Movie: To be honest, this is very difficult to pick just one favorite moment. But there is a scene with Matt Damon and Minnie Driver sitting at an outdoor café. He impatiently offers to do her homework so they can go hang out. She presses him, trying to understand how he can do her organic chemistry so easily.

Will: Beethoven, okay. He looked at a piano, and it just made sense to him. He could just play.
Skylar: So what are you saying? You play the piano?
Will: No, not a lick. I mean, I look at a piano, I see a bunch of keys, three pedals, and a box of wood. But Beethoven, Mozart, they saw it, they could just play. I couldn’t paint you a picture, I probably can’t hit the ball out of Fenway, and I can’t play the piano.
Skylar: But you can do my o-chem paper in under an hour.
Will: Right. Well, I mean when it came to stuff like that… I could always just play.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie

Will’s monologue when he answers the question of why shouldn’t he work for the NSA is as “classic” a piece of dialogue as it gets, there are the well-known and repeated quotes such as, “Do you like apples? Well I got her number. How do you like them apples?”

There are other less popular but equally memorable lines such as Ben Affleck’s, “You’re suspect! Yeah, you! I don’t know what your reputation is in this town, but after the shit you tried to pull today you can bet I’ll be looking into you. Now the business we have, heretofore, you can speak with my aforementioned attorney. Good day, gentlemen; and until that day comes, keep your ear to the grindstone.”

Or his “What am I, fuckin’ sandwich welfare? I think you should establish a good line of credit. Like how you bought your couch, payment plans. Remember how your mother brought in $10 everyday for a year and she finally got her couch Rent-A-Center Style?”

And best of all from his character, “No. No, no no no. Fuck you, you don’t owe it to yourself man, you owe it to me. Cuz tomorrow I’m gonna wake up and I’ll be 50, and I’ll still be doin’ this shit. And that’s all right. That’s fine. I mean, you’re sittin’ on a winnin’ lottery ticket. And you’re too much of a pussy to cash it in, and that’s bullshit. ’Cause I’d do fuckin’ anything to have what you got. So would any of these fuckin’ guys. It’d be an insult to us if you’re still here in 20 years. Hangin’ around here is a fuckin’ waste of your time.”

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie

The tranquil soundtrack only adds to the depth the characters achieve. Robin Williams is known more commonly for his comedic roles but his Sean McGuire exemplified his abilities as a diverse actor. Last but not least, having been to Boston before and ridden the “T” that Will rides, I can attest that the city really is that beautiful and is worth the visit!

Thanks, Michael! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

We already have a set of 80s Movies. This month we cover 90s movies. So thanks to all of you for your participation in this project, creating a resource for writers, movies they should watch to help learn the craft of screenwriting!

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