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Movies / Upcoming / 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

US Box Office: $0

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]

Reviews for Good Will Hunting

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/01/00
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/01/00
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Good Will Hunting is a confident film with great performances and an authentic look, sound and feel.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

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

Part character study, part redemptive drama, and all cheesy heart, it's Boston-baked melodrama, a little too gooey at times, but still pretty delicious.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

Touching, without being sentimental, and feelgood without appearing contrived, this is one shrink-wrapped drama that's worth unpacking.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/10/01
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC

Even rarer than a breath of fresh air is a breath of fresh Hollywood film. Brainy and heartfelt and right on target, Good Will Hunting is such a film.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
01/01/00
Peter Keough
Peter Keough
Boston Phoenix

An impressive scripting debut for actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck...

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Kim Williamson
Kim Williamson
Boxoffice Magazine

The outcome of the movie is fairly predictable; so is the whole story, really. It's the individual moments, not the payoff, that make it so effective.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

É realmente impressionante que dois jovens como Matt Damon e Ben Affleck tenham sido capazes de escrever um roteiro tão complexo quanto o de 'Gênio Indomável'.

Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
05/31/02
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

[A] very good film.

Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Madeleine Williams
Madeleine Williams
Cinematter

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

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

Despite its schematic layout and predictable outcome, the ensemble acting is of such a high level -- particularly that of Robin Williams, Matt Damon and Stellan Skarsgard -- that the impact on his audience is spellbinding.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Damon and Affleck show a wisdom beyond their years with some of the dialogue, which is alternately poignant and humorous.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Between this film and John Grisham's The Rainmaker, Damon surfaces as one swell addition to the front line of screen actors.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
01/01/00
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News

There's nothing original in this picture, yet it's intensely likable just the same.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

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