An injection of motivation and spine-tingling inspiration.

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2001)

It didn't have bombs. It didn't have comets. And it didn't have a gigantic, sinking boat. Bottom line? Didn't need it. In this inspiring, fantasy-wrought screenplay brought to life, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon prove that a down-to-earth, low-budget film can capture magnificence without all the special effects and larger than life cinematography. With Gus Van Sant, the envisioner of the movie, and the unsurprisingly superb Danny Elfman behind the musical wheel, Good Will Hunting deserved the Oscar for Best Picture. Titanic was predictable and true; Good Will Hunting offered a new story to the genre of fantasy screenplays, and it was evident in its winning Best Original Screenplay. As deserving as this was, the Academy fell far short of a consolation prize when it denied it Best Picture. See this movie and follow along with Will on his magical "hunt" for a future and security.