I don't wish to sound patronising, but this is a good first try.

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 1999)

Excellent performances from most of the cast, realistic dialogue, solid direction(From Gus Van Sant who has worked on "My Own Private Idaho" and "Drugstore Cowboy"), and some powerful moments make this 1997 Oscar winner(for Screenplay) watchable. The screenplay, for my mind was the problem. It's a good debut, but it's too familiar(eg. "Educating Rita" and the novel "Maestro" By Peter Goldsworthy"). It's your typical teacher-student film. My brother would like it to be known that I was wrong about the ending, but I wasn't totally wrong, Damon and Ben Affleck are rock solid, and Robin Williams richly deserved his Oscar for another nicely subdued performance(it's a pity he's always playing doctor types). Stellan Skarsgaard and particularly Minnie Driver(sporting her real english accent, which sounds more superficial than her irish or american) are irritating, however. Driver gets a huge laugh though in one scene. Ben and his brother Casey Affleck also have funny moments, as does Matt Damon(a bit egotistical to put himself in the lead, though). Nice, but we've seen it all before.