Matt Damon, left, stars as the troublemaking mathematics genius and Robin Williams plays his therapist. Will, however, does have a singular will of his own and he resists control. Nor is he even that interested in Einstein-level math problems, which he finds too easy to solve.
Street life is more difficult and challenging.
Williams' and Skarsgard's characters, however, already have their own past issues to resolve. Affleck, meanwhile, takes a lesser role in the film as Will Hunting's best friend. The real magic, however, is Damon's deeply moving performance as the title character. Overplayed, and Will Hunting would be a Hollywood cliche. Contemporaries such as Brad Pitt can't seem to hold or even find that precarious balance.