Ranked 87th on the site though it is better than at least 1/3 of films rated higher on here

Rating: 10/10 (19 October 2019)

I watched this movie for the third time today and it was just as powerful to me, if not more so, than when I saw it upon its release.
Gripping story and characters.
Superb acting all-around.
Robin Williams earned every ounce of his Oscar and his grand performance here is one of the great efforts in movie history. It's one of those roles that should be replayed every year at the Oscars ceremony along with Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca and Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain. Williams is not the lead actor but his interplay with Matt Damon in the key scene near the finale is one of the best film history has to offer us.
As most should know, Damon wrote the script with a young Ben Affleck. Affleck's younger brother Casey has a solid supporting role as well. Cole Hauser, who acted with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the 1992 film School Ties, has a small role but makes an impression. Hauser also acted with Ben Affleck in Dazed and Confused (1993) and I assume must be a real-life friend of both.
Minnie Driver is really great in a difficult role.
I have a small problem with a couple of the lines which I won't give away. There is some tongue and cheek humor and a few things that might seem implausible today but were realistic in 1997.
The brilliance of the writing, the youthful energy and the power of the performances (along with a great soundtrack that features the haunting songs of the late Elliott Smith) make this a landmark film for a generation - especially those who came of age in the 1990's.