Good Will Hunting of the 70's.

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2004)

Some called Rudy the Rocky of the 90's. The story of the under dog who strives to beat the odds. Like Rudy, Rocky was based on true events. For Stallone, it was his chance to be a superstar. It was not only his break through performance that made Stallone a star. Many forget that Rocky was his screenplay. Much like the 1,000 - 1 shot that was Good Will Hunting, Stallone was in the same situation as Mat Damon and Ben Affleck. Both films were true labors of love. Both believed in their stories. Each wanted to do more than just make a little movie and earn a pay check from it. Rocky has become more and more of a classic as time passes. It is a universal story with themes of true grit and passion. More than just movies, the message that films like Rudy, Rocky, and Good Will Hunting leave the audience is timeless. They not only score big at the box office, they hit close to home with a story that is pure and truthful. These movies capture the essence of the settings they take place in whether it be Boston, Philadelphia or Notre Dame. If done right, the overall theme of the common man making his mark and beating the odds is a genre that is dynamic and well encouraged.