‘Good Will Hunting’ Review: Affleck & Damon’s Drama Remains a Classic

The first collaboration of many between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon that is also one of their best works to date, 1997’s Good Will Hunting remains a defining film of its era for a reason. Sure, the duo have donned wigs to take part in medieval dramas or goofy shades for an upcoming retelling of a more recent true story. However, it is the more understated character study that launched their careers which sees them both acting and writing to outstanding results. Each scene, be in service of more comedic bits or deeper reflections on life, feels natural in a way that only grows on the longer you sit with them. It is one of those films that is able to completely capture the nuances of its slice of life story in a way that feels both specific and universal. Never sanding down the messy parts of its life, it makes you feel as though you have known its central characters as completely as if you had known them for your whole life.