“Good Will Hunting”, is a1997 Hollywood hit that starred its writers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It is all centered around a severely troubled boy genius named Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, who had a terrible life growing up. As an abused orphan, all he knew was violence, pain and suffering and he probably thought that he was doomed to live his entire life with only these things. His friend Chuckie, played by Ben Affleck, was the brother that he never had and always had his back. Will’s life gets all turned around when his talents are discovered by a professor at the university where he was a janitor. The professor introduces him to a psychiatrist, played by Robin Williams, that changes Will’s whole perspective on life and ultimately becomes his best friend.
What makes this a good story is that right away in the movie, it grabs a hold of your interest and it does really good job with handling emotional material with restrain. The characters are so unique and conflicted that you always want to know more. It just draws you into the story and some people can probably relate to most of the characters and their conflicts. You could relate your tough childhood to the problems that Will faces, but there is more then just the main character. You could relate to Chuckie, a good guy who hates to see his friend waste his life away or Sean Maguire, a man that learns a lot himself while helping this troubled kid.
This movie is one that we all wish was true. It is probably not going to be something that everybody is going to witness, but we still wish that maybe someday it will come true in our lives. We might not be the boy genius, but we could be the person that helps someone else exploit their talents instead of throwing them away. Everyday we could be that person that sits down and talks to our friends in trouble or a random stranger having a bad day. People need others to believe in them, before they realize they have something special. The title tells it all. This kid is smart, but he is not good until Sean and Professor Gerald believe in him. Then he became the smart and good guy that he wasn’t ever taught to be.
From a personal aspect, I absolutely loved the story and plot of this movie, but I just did not like the movie itself. Sure it had its funny parts and sad parts, but I just could not get past some things. For example, I was not particularly impressed with the way they chose to portray everyone in it. Everyone in the movie was foul mouthed jerk to the other. Sure it magnifies the conflicts and tensions of the movie, but is it necessary. The f-word was probably the most popular word in the movie. Others might like that, but I am not that kind of person.
Since the library would not let me see the articles about the movie, I am going to close on Jack Garner’s comment about the movie. He said “Young Will Hunting is very, very bright; a genius actually. But he’s also bursting with confusion and rage, triggered by an abusive childhood and an adolescence of low expectations. Will can reason like mad, but he’s usually too mad to reason.” This quote is not only the life story for Will, but to so many others. These people have such great talents, but no guidance in their life to help them us it. This is something that everyone can help another with. Instead of cutting people down all the time, say or do something supportive to help others rather then hinder them. Be the light house to their lost boats, like Sean was to Will.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
On the Waterfront
“On the Waterfront”, is a 1954 classic which was based on the articles by Malcolm Johnson, who wrote about corrupt unions on the docks of New York. This movie mainly focused on the ideas of the characters moral implications and the struggle for human dignity. The main character, Terry Malloy, played by the actor Marlon Brando is an ex-boxer that gets a job with the mob because of his brother Charley Malloy.
The movie really focuses on the transitions that Terry made to become the person that he knew he should be. At the beginning, he is just this little obedient guy that actually takes part in the murdering of his own friend, which shows that he is timid and has no respect for himself. He follows the mob leader Johnny Friendly, who is the symbol of corruption and evil. Then he meets the sister of the man he helped kill and she changes him. She kind of symbolizes the good in all humanity. Terry is then in the middle of a giant game of tug-a-war between the mob and Edie Doyle, between what is right and wrong, and between good and evil.
As Terry is stuck in between what is right and wrong, he is guided by the town father. Father Barry, who is my personal favorite character, is the symbol of god and justice. He pretty much made the entire movie great and worth watching. Karl Malden’s acting was the best in the movie. Even though he wasn’t the main character, he was the deciding factor in Terry’s struggle.
The only part of the movie that I really did not understand is why did Terry and all the other workers continue to work for the mob. After he had been brutalized and beaten to a half inch of his life, he continues to work for the mob. I really expected them to all just walk away from the whole thing and go on strike. You would think that would hurt the mob more then going back to work for them, but they had a different strategy.
In final, I believe that this movie is trying to tell us not to conform to evil, but fight it. We cannot stand by and watch our fellow brothers and sisters get hurt and killed. We have to stand up for ourselves and do god’s work. Even if our lives are in danger, we need to what is right.
The movie really focuses on the transitions that Terry made to become the person that he knew he should be. At the beginning, he is just this little obedient guy that actually takes part in the murdering of his own friend, which shows that he is timid and has no respect for himself. He follows the mob leader Johnny Friendly, who is the symbol of corruption and evil. Then he meets the sister of the man he helped kill and she changes him. She kind of symbolizes the good in all humanity. Terry is then in the middle of a giant game of tug-a-war between the mob and Edie Doyle, between what is right and wrong, and between good and evil.
As Terry is stuck in between what is right and wrong, he is guided by the town father. Father Barry, who is my personal favorite character, is the symbol of god and justice. He pretty much made the entire movie great and worth watching. Karl Malden’s acting was the best in the movie. Even though he wasn’t the main character, he was the deciding factor in Terry’s struggle.
The only part of the movie that I really did not understand is why did Terry and all the other workers continue to work for the mob. After he had been brutalized and beaten to a half inch of his life, he continues to work for the mob. I really expected them to all just walk away from the whole thing and go on strike. You would think that would hurt the mob more then going back to work for them, but they had a different strategy.
In final, I believe that this movie is trying to tell us not to conform to evil, but fight it. We cannot stand by and watch our fellow brothers and sisters get hurt and killed. We have to stand up for ourselves and do god’s work. Even if our lives are in danger, we need to what is right.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
"Casablanca"
Casablanca, a movie about a good old love triangle, was an instant classic and all time great when it was released January 23, 1943. The movie really puts the saying "if you love someone then you will be able to let them go" to the test. The main character Rick really has to choose between what is the right thing to do and what he wants for himself.
In my own opinion, the movie was a great love story that had everything in it. It had Nazis, criminals, a baffling murder, a lost love and an unseen twist that made everyone gasp. I kind of figured that IIsa and Victor were in love, but who could have seen that they were married even when Rick and IIsa were in Paris. The ending is what was really predictable though. I knew that Rick wasn't going to let Victor stay in Casablanca while he and his wife went to America. It was a good excuse in the movie, but I was not going to buy it. I knew no man would take another man's wife and leave him probably to die, especially when it was so obvious that she loved her husband more then him. Right when she pulled the gun on Rick to get the letters, that’s when he knew that he had no chance with her and that she really did love her husband. He knew the only way that he and IIsa could be happy is if he let them go to America. Then and only then could he finally put to rest that nightmare of what happened to him at the train station.
Finally this movie was a great romantic classic that really shows that love will triumph over everything from war to money. Like the IMDB movie review says “it is a great romance, not only for being so supremely entertaining with its humor and realistic-though-exotic wartime excitement, but because it's not the least bit mushy.” So what can a person ever give a movie that has everything? How about three Oscars along with five other nominations, great reviews and a good reference from me also.
In my own opinion, the movie was a great love story that had everything in it. It had Nazis, criminals, a baffling murder, a lost love and an unseen twist that made everyone gasp. I kind of figured that IIsa and Victor were in love, but who could have seen that they were married even when Rick and IIsa were in Paris. The ending is what was really predictable though. I knew that Rick wasn't going to let Victor stay in Casablanca while he and his wife went to America. It was a good excuse in the movie, but I was not going to buy it. I knew no man would take another man's wife and leave him probably to die, especially when it was so obvious that she loved her husband more then him. Right when she pulled the gun on Rick to get the letters, that’s when he knew that he had no chance with her and that she really did love her husband. He knew the only way that he and IIsa could be happy is if he let them go to America. Then and only then could he finally put to rest that nightmare of what happened to him at the train station.
Finally this movie was a great romantic classic that really shows that love will triumph over everything from war to money. Like the IMDB movie review says “it is a great romance, not only for being so supremely entertaining with its humor and realistic-though-exotic wartime excitement, but because it's not the least bit mushy.” So what can a person ever give a movie that has everything? How about three Oscars along with five other nominations, great reviews and a good reference from me also.
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