Good Will Hunting (1997)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers (WGA):

Matt Damon (written by) &
Ben Affleck (written by)

Release Date:

9 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Some people can never believe in themselves, until someone believes in them.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Genius | Professor | Janitor | Mathematics | Friend

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Will Hunting
Robin Williams	...	Sean Maguire
Ben Affleck	...	Chuckie Sullivan
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Prof. Gerald Lambeau
Minnie Driver	...	Skylar
Casey Affleck	...	Morgan O'Mally
Cole Hauser	...	Billy McBride
John Mighton	...	Tom - Lambeau's Teaching Assistant
Rachel Majorowski	...	Krystyn
Colleen McCauley	...	Cathy
Matt Mercier	...	Barbershop Quartet #1
Ralph St. George	...	Barbershop Quartet #2
Rob Lynds	...	Barbershop Quartet #3
Dan Washington	...	Barbershop Quartet #4
Alison Folland	...	M.I.T. Student #1
Derrick Bridgeman	...	M.I.T. Student #2
Vik Sahay	...	Nemesh = M.I.T. Student #3 (as Vic Sahay)
Shannon Egleson	...	Girl on Street
Rob Lyons	...	Carmine Scarpaglia
Steven Kozlowski	...	Carmine Friend #1
Jennifer Deathe	...	Lydia
Scott William Winters	...	Clark
Philip Williams	...	Terry - Head Custodian
Patrick O'Donnell	...	Marty - Assistant Custodian
Kevin Rushton	...	Courtroom Guard
Jimmy Flynn	...	Judge George H. Malone
Joe Cannon	...	Prosecutor
Ann Matacunas	...	Court Officer
George Plimpton	...	Henry Lipkin - Psychologist
Francesco Clemente	...	Rich - Hypnotherapist
Jessica Morton	...	Maurine - Bunker Hill College Student
Barna Moricz	...	Vinnie - Bunker Hill College Student
Libby Geller	...	Toy Store Cashier
Chas Lawther	...	M.I.T. Professor
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Timmy
Frank Nakashima	...	Executive #1
Chris Britton	...	Executive #2
David Eisner	...	Executive #3
Bruce Hunter	...	NSA Agent #1
Robert Talvano	...	NSA Agent #2
James Allodi	...	Security Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Curcuro	...	(uncredited)
Kent Damon	...	Chess Game Player (uncredited)
Riva Di Paola	...	M.I.T. Student (uncredited)
Harmony Korine	...	Jerve (uncredited)
Thomas Lundy	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Daniel Olsen	...	MIT Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits (WGA)
Matt Damon		(written by) &
Ben Affleck		(written by)

Produced by
Su Armstrong	....	executive producer
Lawrence Bender	....	producer
Jonathan Gordon	....	executive producer
Chris Moore	....	co-producer
Scott Mosier	....	co-executive producer
Kevin Smith	....	co-executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Jean-Yves Escoffier		(director of photography) (as Jean Yves Escoffier)

Film Editing by
Pietro Scalia

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Missy Stewart		(as Melissa Stewart)

Art Direction by
James McAteer

Set Decoration by
Jaro Dick

Costume Design by
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Makeup Department
James D. Brown	....	hair stylist
Jean Carney	....	additional makeup artist: Boston
Elizabeth Cecchini	....	additional hair stylist: Boston
Leslie Ann Sebert	....	makeup artist (as Leslie Sebert)

Production Management
Dorothy Aufiero	....	production supervisor: Boston
Christopher Goode	....	unit production manager: Boston
Robert Hackl	....	post-production supervisor (as Robert A. Hackl)
Brent O'Connor	....	unit production manager
Pamela Winn-Barnett	....	post-production supervisor (as Pam Winn Barnett)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Deathe	....	third assistant director
Lisa Janowski	....	second assistant director: Boston
Andrew Shea	....	first assistant director
David Till	....	second assistant director
Kate Weiss	....	dgc trainee
Brian A. York	....	second second assistant director: Boston (as Brian York)

Art Department
Michael E. Allegretto	....	greensman (as Michael Allegretto)
Judson Bell	....	construction foreman: Boston
Vito Botticella	....	assistant head stand-by carpenter
Duncan Campbell	....	construction foreman
Manya Cetlin	....	set dresser: Boston
Jessica Chaffin	....	art department assistant: Boston
David Orin Charles	....	on-set decorator (as David Charles)
Kirk Copella	....	head painter
Marc Corriveau	....	property master
Jack Coyle	....	carpenter: Boston
Ken Doyle	....	second man: Boston (as Kenny Doyle)
Mark Duffield	....	second assistant art director
Jennifer Engel	....	props assistant: Boston
David Evans	....	assistant property master
Danielle Fleury	....	set decoration buyer
Chris Fousek	....	set dresser: Boston (as Chris 'Curtis' Fousek)
Graeme Gossage	....	property buyer (as Graeme 'Goose' Gossage)
Kenneth Hardy	....	art director: Boston (as Kenneth A. Hardy)
Wayne Jacques	....	set dresser
Chris Kaseta-Cornelius	....	on-set scenic artist: Boston (as Christine Kaseta-Cornelius)
Diane J. Laurienzo	....	charge scenic: Boston (as Diane Laurienzo)
Gordon Lebredt	....	first assistant art director (as Gordon LeBredt)
Eric Levenson	....	scenic artist: Boston
Michael Madden	....	first assistant art director
Karen Menze	....	scenic artist: Boston
Vanessa Mills	....	scenic artist: Boston
Kris Moran	....	assistant property master: Boston (as Kristine Moran)
Steven Morell	....	set dresser: Boston
Lisa Nagid	....	art department coordinator: Boston
Peter E. Nauyokas	....	on-set dresser
Mark O'Donoghue	....	location head carpenter
Eugene Pope	....	carpenter: Boston
Reet Puhm	....	key scenic artist
Paul Richards	....	lead man: Boston
John 'Butch' Rose	....	assistant decorator
Kathleen Rosen	....	set decorator: Boston
Adam Scher	....	set designer: Boston
Kurt Smith	....	construction coordinator: Boston
Aileen Sovronsky	....	set decoration buyer: Boston
Phillip Tellez	....	construction coordinator (as Phil Tellez)
Mark Tucker	....	scenic artist: Boston
Donald Wilson Jr.	....	set dresser: Boston
Bobby Anderson	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Appleton	....	adr walla editor
Kelley Baker	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Boudry	....	adr recordist (as Mike Boudrey)
David A. Cohen	....	dialogue editor
Tom E. Dahl	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tom Dahl)
Steve Fontano	....	foley mixer
Michael 'Gonzo' Gandsey	....	sound editor (as Michael Gandsey 'Gonzo')
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Steve Kohler	....	sound recordist
Owen Langevin	....	sound mixer
James J. Mase	....	center boom recordist: Boston (as James Mase)
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Richard Moore	....	sound editor
Jennifer Myers	....	foley artist
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Aaron Olsen	....	assistant sound editor (as Aaron Olson)
Frank Rinella	....	foley recordist
Erika Schengili-Roberts	....	left boom operator (as Erika Schengeli-Roberts)
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Concha Solano	....	assistant sound editor
Jim Thompson	....	right boom operator
Gus Van Sant	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patrick Winters	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
William 'Billy Jack' Jakielaszek	....	special effects (as William 'Billyjack' Jakielaszek)
Brian Ricci	....	special effects coordinator
Ed Ricci	....	special effects (as Edward Ricci)
Stephen R. Ricci	....	special effects (as Stephen Ricci)

Visual Effects by
Brian Allan	....	optical camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Brian Ricci	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Albert	....	grip: Boston
Mark J. Casey	....	electrician: Boston
Scott D. Davis	....	best boy electric: Boston (as Scott Davis)
Thomas Doran	....	best boy grip: Boston
Tim Driscoll	....	grip: Boston
Bryan Forde	....	gaffer
Adam Gilmore	....	second assistant camera: Boston
Stephen Girouard	....	electrician: Boston (as Steve Girouard)
Wayne Goodchild	....	grip
Neil Gover	....	electrician
Bob Hannah	....	electrician (as Robert Hannah)
Brian Heller	....	camera operator: Boston
Greg Hill	....	camera technician: Wescam camera
Tim Hogan	....	grip: Boston
David Kellner	....	best boy electric (as Dave Kellner)
Steve Klys	....	grip
James Kohne	....	grip
George Kraychyk	....	still photographer
Jim MacCammon	....	electrician (as James MacCammon)
Mark Manchester	....	key grip
William McKibbin	....	electrician
Jack McPhee	....	electrician: Boston (as Jack MacPhee)
Joseph Micomonaco	....	second assistant camera (as Joe Micomonaco)
Malcolm Nefsky	....	best boy grip
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera, closing credit sequence
Bob O'Connor	....	grip
Rick Perotto	....	first assistant camera
Matthew Pill	....	grip
Herb Reischl Jr.	....	rigging gaffer (as Herb Reischl)
Stephanie Ryan	....	camera loader: Boston
Tracy Shaw	....	dolly grip
Peter Sweeney	....	camera trainee
Robert Tompkins	....	dolly grip: Boston
Ken Wyke	....	electrician (as Kenneth Wyke)
Rocky Brown	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Stefan Forbes	....	additional assistant camera: Boston (uncredited)
Guy Holt	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting assistant: New York
Matt Bouldry	....	extras casting assistant: Boston (as Matthew Bouldry)
Kevin Fennessy	....	extras casting: Boston
Tina Gerussi	....	casting: Toronto
Jennifer McNamara	....	casting associate
Carolyn Pickman	....	local casting: Boston
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting: Toronto
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Jodi Purdy-Quinlan	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Anderson	....	set costumer: Boston
Nancy Drinan	....	wardrobe production assistant: Boston
Gerri Gillan	....	set costumer (as Gerri Gillian)
Debbie Holbrook	....	wardrobe supervisor: Boston
Lisa Lesniak	....	wardrobe dyer: Boston
Ann Powderly	....	set costumer: Boston
Marcia Scott	....	set costumer
Dawn Testa	....	set costumer: Boston
Vanessa Vogel	....	assistant costume designer
Delphine White	....	wardrobe supervisor
Loreen Lightfoot	....	costume cutter/stitcher (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
D-J	....	assistant editor
Kelley Dixon	....	first assistant editor (as Kelley C. Dixon)
Jolie Gorchov	....	post-production coordinator
Scott Patrick Green	....	editing intern
Mike Mertens	....	color timer (as Michael Mertens)
Kim Roseborough	....	assistant editor
Heidi Vogel	....	post-production consultant
Chisako Yokoyama	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Steve Bartek	....	orchestrator
Steve Bartek	....	score producer
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	music contractor
Danny Elfman	....	score producer
Eric Greenspan	....	music legal services
Liz Heller	....	executive soundtrack producer: Capitol Records
Bill Jackson	....	score recordist
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor
Jeffrey Kimball	....	music supervisor
Stephanie Lowry	....	assistant music editor
Mark McKenzie	....	additional orchestrator
Jill Meyers	....	music clearance
Bobbi Page	....	vocal contractor
Dennis S. Sands	....	score mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Dennis S. Sands	....	score recordist (as Dennis Sands)
Kari Windingstad	....	vocal contractor
Patti Zimmitti	....	music contractor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Stephanie Murray	....	score stage administrator (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard P. Abate Jr.	....	driver: Boston (as Richard Abate Jr.)
Robert Albano	....	driver: Boston
Ken Barbet	....	lead driver
Pat Brennan	....	driver
Percy Budd	....	driver
Ricardo Burkhardt	....	driver: set decoration
Richard Buttaro	....	driver: Boston
Tom Costley	....	driver: Boston
Robert Destasio	....	driver: Boston
Robert Dudley	....	driver: Boston
Ron Dunder	....	driver: Boston
Gary Flanagan	....	driver
Ray Gabourie	....	driver
Joseph Gagliardi	....	driver: Boston (as Joe Gagliardi)
Richard Hanscom	....	driver: Boston
Charles V. Haskins	....	driver: Boston
Stuart Hughes	....	driver
Gordon Ionson	....	driver
Norman Mahoney	....	driver: Boston
Robert Martini	....	transportation captain: Boston
William McGrath	....	driver: Boston
Stuart Mitchell	....	transportation captain
Neil Montgomerie	....	driver
William O'Brien	....	transportation coordinator: Boston
Greg O'Hara	....	driver
James O'Leary	....	driver: Boston
George Russell Jr.	....	driver: Boston
Joseph F. Ryan Jr.	....	driver: Boston
Bartley Small	....	driver: Boston
Dave Staples	....	transportation coordinator
Maurice Tremblay	....	driver
Chris Warren	....	driver: cook, Boston
Joe Warren	....	driver: Boston

Other crew
C-Nedra Al-Thor	....	payroll clerk
Ted Alvarez	....	production assistant: Boston
Larry Babitz	....	catering assistant: Boston
Doug Benson	....	post-production accountant
Justin Bill	....	stand-in: Mr. Skarsgård
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in: Mr. Williams
Kathryn Buck	....	script supervisor
Brian Burkin	....	business/legal: Miramax
Ian Campbell	....	stand-in: Mr. Casey Affleck
Drew Clarke	....	assistant: Mr. Damon and Mr. Affleck
Marianne Crescenzi	....	production coordinator: Boston
Roger Davies	....	production coordinator: New York and Boston
Marty Dejczak	....	unit location manager
Mary Donovan	....	production assistant: Boston
Ann Du Val	....	legal: A Band Apart
Robert Easton	....	dialect coach
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Kiley Fascia	....	first assistant accountant
Pablo Ferro	....	title designer
Mark Fitzgerald	....	assistant location manager: Boston
Frank Foley	....	craft service: Boston
Bob Glover	....	office production assistant
Carlos K. Goodman	....	legal: A Band Apart (as Carlos Goodman)
Craig Goodwill	....	office production assistant
Scott Patrick Green	....	assistant: Mr. Van Sant
Charles Harrington	....	unit location manager: Boston
Robert Hoehn	....	stand-in: Mr. Hauser
Brandon Hollyer	....	production assistant: Boston
Christian J. Hollyer	....	production assistant: Boston (as Christian Hollyer)
P. Robert Hughes	....	stand-in: Mr. Hauser
Marty Ignatowski	....	catering assistant: Boston
April A. Janow	....	production accountant (as April Janow)
Jamie Kershaw	....	legal: A Band Apart
Harmony Korine	....	consultant: jail
Randy Kumano	....	co-production coordinator
Laurie Lapides	....	stand-in: Ms. Driver
Sophia Lofters	....	travel coordinator
Mark Logan	....	assistant location manager
John Loughlin	....	production assistant: Boston
Colin MacLellan	....	production assistant: Boston
Vair Macphee	....	production coordinator
Marc Mann	....	midi programmer
Dana T. Marsh	....	master of choristers
David Marshall	....	stand-in: Mr. Ben Affleck
Bill McAdams Jr.	....	stand-in: Mr. Damon
Courtney McDonnell	....	executive: A Band Apart
Michael McGroarty	....	stand-in: Mr. Casey Affleck
David McIlroy	....	location production assistant (as David McIllroy)
Derek Milosavljevic	....	stand-in: Mr. Ben Affleck (as Derek Milosavijevic)
Meg Montagnino-Jarrett	....	production secretary: Boston (as Meg Montagnino)
Krisztina M. Neglia	....	stand-in: Ms. Driver (as Kristina Meuring)
Patrick O'Donnell	....	math consultant (as Dr. Patrick O'Donnell)
Elisabeth O'Kelly	....	production assistant: Boston
Bill Phillips	....	first assistant accountant: Boston
Lucius T. Ramsey	....	location production assistant: Boston (as Lucius Ramsey)
David Riccardi	....	accounting clerk: Boston
Michael Rosenfeld	....	immigration legal
Alex Ross	....	stand-in: Mr. Damon
Neil Sacker	....	business/legal: Miramax
Catherine Sample	....	office production assistant
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator (as Berton Sharp)
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams (as Rebecca Irwin Spencer)
Aaron Stockard	....	production assistant: Boston
Jeff Swafford	....	assistant: Mr. Bender
Michelle Sy	....	assistant: Mr. Gordon
Evann Tenor	....	stand-in: Mr. Damon
Sarah Thornton	....	accounting clerk
John Turtle	....	consultant: psychology
Gordon Weiske	....	set production assistant
Amanda White	....	assistant: Ms. Armstrong
Adam Bitterman	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Richard Bronskill	....	auricle operator (uncredited)
Don Carmody	....	production consultant (uncredited)
Stephen L'Heureux	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tony Morgan	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Peavey	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Colin Thacher	....	assistant: Mr. Van Sant (uncredited)

Thanks
Derrick Bridgeman	....	thanks
Steve Burkow	....	thanks
John L. Burnham	....	thanks
William S. Burroughs	....	in memory of
Larry Cancro	....	thanks
Andrew Cannava	....	thanks
Robert M. Curcuro	....	thanks (as Bobby Curcuro)
Jimmy Darmody	....	thanks
Robin Dawson	....	thanks
Sam Fisher	....	thanks
Jean Flannagan	....	thanks
Richard Francis	....	thanks
Joe Garagiola	....	thanks
Alberto García	....	thanks
Peter Garrison	....	thanks
Gary Gersh	....	thanks
Allen Ginsberg	....	in memory of
Sheldon L. Glashow	....	thanks
Liz Glotzer	....	thanks
William Goldman	....	thanks
Tim Grafft	....	thanks
Kim Green	....	thanks
John Hadity	....	thanks
Kevin Hyman	....	thanks
Julie Kirkham	....	thanks
Daniel Kleitman	....	thanks (as Daniel J. Kleitman)
Barbara Koplin	....	thanks
Stephen Koplin	....	thanks
Anthony Kubiak	....	thanks
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	thanks (as Michele Kuznetsky)
Jay Lacopo	....	thanks
Jack Lechner	....	thanks
Richard Linklater	....	thanks
Terrence Malick	....	thanks
Shannon McIntosh	....	thanks
Jack McNees	....	thanks
Michael Menchel	....	thanks
Margaret Mittleman	....	thanks
Earnest Moniz	....	thanks
Gaby Morgerman	....	thanks
Chris Murphy	....	thanks
Kim Niemi	....	thanks
Mike Nylon	....	thanks
Nicole Pennington	....	thanks
David Plant	....	thanks
Meryl Poster	....	thanks
Mary Ramos	....	thanks
Rob Reiner	....	thanks
Heather Rem	....	thanks
David Riccardi	....	thanks
Cheyenne Rothman	....	thanks
Skylar Satenstein	....	thanks
Chuck Saucier	....	thanks
Michael Simpson	....	thanks (as Mike Simpson)
Amy Slotnick	....	thanks
Gerry Speca	....	thanks
Dick Stockton	....	thanks
Lee Stollman	....	thanks
Gail Thompson	....	thanks
Jenno Topping	....	thanks
Mark Tusk	....	thanks
Paul Webster	....	thanks
David F. Wheeler	....	thanks
Patrick Whitesell	....	thanks
Ann Marie Williams	....	thanks
Peter Yates	....	thanks
Donna Zuchlinsky	....	thanks
Edward Zwick	....	thanks (as Ed Zwick)

Production Companies

• Be Gentlemen Limited Partnership
• Lawrence Bender Productions
• Miramax Films

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Bac Films (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1998) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Intersonic (1998) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Lider Films (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1998) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1998) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1998) (Canada) (all media)
• BMG Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International
• Finnkino (1998) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Panorama Distributions (2006) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2012) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• SF Video (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (4-disc Grandes Ganadoras del Oscar)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Kavanaugh Special Effects

Other Companies

• AON/Ruben-Winkler Entertainment Insurance  insurance provided by
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services provided by
• Buena Vista Sound  re-recording
• By David's  catering: Toronto
• Capitol Records  soundtrack published by
• Cinema Research  digital opticals by
• Collinge Pickman Casting  extras casting: Boston
• DeLuxe Toronto  color (as Deluxe Toronto)
• Deluxe Catering  catering: Boston
• Flowers East, London  John Kirby print courtesy of
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance provided by
• High Output  grip and lighting equipment
• Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Goodman  A Band Apart legal
• Lightworks  edited on
• Major League Baseball Productions  baseball footage courtesy of
• Massachusetts Film Office  special thanks
• Miramax Records  soundtrack published by
• Murray Weissman and Associates  marketing and promotion
• Pacific Title  opticals by
• Panavision  grip and electrical equipment provided by (as Panavision, Toronto)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  score recorded at
• Signet Soundelux Studios  score mixed at
• Starcraft Services  craft service: Toronto
• The Irish Times Limited  Samuel Beckett photograph courtesy of
• The Music Team  music contractor
• The Paulist Boy Choristers of California  boys choir
• Title House  titles
• Travelcorps International  travel services provided by
• Village Recorder, The  score recorded at
• Wescam USA  wescam provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, including some sex-related dialogue

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 (original rating) | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Brazil:14 | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Israel:PG | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:R (certificate #35614) | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 (cut) | Argentina:Atp (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Be Gentlemen Limited Partnership

Trivia:

An earlier draft of the script had Will Hunting being recruited by the government to become a cryptanalyst (based on his mathematical ability). Rob Reiner reportedly reviewed the script and advised Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to eliminate this subplot. However, there is a reference to it in the final script: the scene where Will meets with NSA agents and explains why he doesn't want to work for them.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The closing credits thank "the State of Massachusetts". Massachusetts is actually referred to as "the Commonwealth of Massachusetts".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lambeau:Mod fx... squared... dx. So please finish Parceval, by next time. I know many of you had this as undergraduates, but it won't hurt to brush up.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nostalgia Critic: Patch Adams (#5.7)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Room

A slow burner, a fine achievement

Sure, this film's plot is fairly predictable. Sure, if you boiled it down to its essential components it wouldn't amount to much. Sure, Will Hunting's genius is profoundly unrealistic.

Yet I'm giving this one 10 out of 10.

I don't know whether Matt and Ben have ever been in therapy, but they certainly understand a lot about the human psyche, how it ducks responsibility, and pushes blame onto others, how it dismisses the real gifts it has and concentrates on running itself down. How many of us suffer from the same problems as Will? Only those who deny their own vulnerability will remain unaffected by this film.

Not only is the script powerful, but the dynamics between the characters - all of them selfish, even Skylar - is vividly and plausibly executed. The film just about manages to avoid easy answers, preferring to acknowledge (indeed, highlight) the complexity and pain of personal growth and self-realisation.

You could read a lot of self-help books, but they won't bring across to you as powerfully as this film what it's like to be scared, what it's like to experience loss, how difficult it is to shake off your old ways of thinking, how important honesty to yourself is. If this is the kind of revelation Matt and Ben are going to come up with, I look forward to their future efforts.

The first time I saw it, I felt moved as the credits rolled. On my way home from the cinema, I felt sombre. When I got home, I finally burst into tears. This film burns slowly, inside you.

As cinema, it's fair to middling. The performances are all first class. The script is a jewel. As wisdom, it's second to none. A fine achievement.