First, to watch this movie is to capture a moment of time of two young performers who have ended up being significant players in the movies. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have gone on to be be two of the most accomplished performers in Hollywood, and this movie is really where they got their start. To watch this movie again is to have a glimpse into why they have been so successful, each of them in their own way. They create characters in this movie (both by acting and writing, since they wrote this movie) that are funny, vulnerable and real. As two young men from South Boston, they are rough around the edges but share a core of loyalty and honesty that is refreshing. Two scenes come to mind. The classic scene wherein Will (Damon) blows away a pompous Harvard student with his intellect is a classic. Part of the reason for that is not only Matt Damon's scene wherein he recites the history books, but also Affleck's clear role as a wingman/set up man. As a side note, the gang of four friends that Damon and Affleck wrote is a classic case of using a group of friends to create a world where the viewer feels a certain belonging to a group. As a viewer of this movie, you care about this group of young men. The viewer laughs with them, hurts with them, and even shakes their head at them when they stray off the path and get in trouble. The creation of this group of hoodlums is one of the pillars of tho movie.
Second, the movie gives as a tremendous amount of depth to every significant character. For examples, as Will's mathematic genius begins to reveal itself, Jerry (Stellan Skarsgaard), an accomplished mathematician at MIT, takes an interest in him. Jerry keeps Will out of jail, but them wishes to take him under his wing. Jerry promises the judge that he will get Will therapy, and that brings Sean (Robin Williams) into the mix. Sean is a professor of psychology at a community college. Jerry insightfully believes that Sean will understand Will, and after some rough early sessions, it becomes clear that Sean can indeed help Will. The depth of character to which I refer comes to light not only with Sean and Will's interactions, but also in the interactions of Sean and Jerry. As the story moves along, it becomes clear that Sean and Jerry have a past as well, being friends and rivals at MIT during their college days. This tension between them is handled masterfully in the screenplay. The subtext of their relationship os assumed by the characters, but it is never awkwardly belabored. Sean and Jerry talk to each other in a real way, not in a way that artificially reveals their past. I have always thought that the relationship between Sean and Jerry could make for a great movie of its own, and that is part of what makes this film so rich.
Finally, the joys and losses of the characters prove to be relatable to the audience. It is easy Will to put his girlfriend Skylar (Minnie Driver) in a privileged box because she goes to Harvard. It is only when he begins to become vulnerable to her that she reveals her pain to him. The only reason she can go to Harvard is because her father died and left her the money to do so. The emotions that come from these confrontations cause Will to be scared and flee from intimacy. This sets up the wonderful interactions Will has with Sean. Robin Williams' character in this film proves to be a challenge to Will's world. He pushes Will to become vulnerable, even though Will has been abused or abandoned by nearly everyone who has been close to him, except his circle of friends. At the same time, Will challenges Sean as well, since Sean has had his own share of deep pain. Sean's wife has died of cancer, and he is also reticent to be vulnerable again. The scenes between Matt Damon and Robin Williams are the heart of the movie. Williams' comic persona is almost absent here, though it does show itself a few times. It is in a performance such as this that Williams showed, to me, the extent of his talent. Of course his comedy was in its own world, but his ability to create a character here and interact with the other actors in the cast is noteworthy. The subtext of his relationship with Jerry is rich, and the challenge both that he gives to will and receives from him is wonderfully executed in his performance. Sean's life is in shambles, and this young man seems to give him a purpose as well as a challenge.
Since Williams is a supporting character in this movie, it can be lost how good Matt Damon is in the central role. He is in most every shot, and he carries the title character with verity. Robin Williams adds a great deal to this movie, and his ability to do this kind of work will be missed by all of us. His best scene is a wonderful scene wherein he challenges young Will to open up to him. If I could have bookends that would encapsulate this man's career, I would show this clip, and the clip I shared in my last blog entry about Williams. This is a wonderfully written and performed scene, and I think it shows how good Williams could be (word to the wise...some ROUGH LANGUAGE AHEAD). We will miss his performances...
