I have never seen the movie Good Will Hunting and after watching this movie I think it's an incredible movie, and I couldn't believe I have never seen it before. This academy award winning film is about a genius who has a philosophical gift for math. Will, the intellectual math wiz lives in a run-down neighborhood where he lived an unhappy and rough life. Will does not attend college because he can't afford it. He constantly is getting himself in trouble by fighting guys in the neighborhood and shows no respect towards others. He has assault charges against him and was abused as a child, which explains why he is lives life on the edge and is so violent. He makes his money by being a janitor at a local college in his hometown which is living life in the lower class system. Will has a passion for math and you can tell this from the very beginning of the movie when Will proves the graduate level algebra theory problem the night Professor Lambeau posted it. Not only does he solve that theory, but he quickly solves another problem that took Lambeau and his colleagues two years to prove. The therapists that Professor Lambeau schedules to meet with Will to help him doesn't work, because Will has a hard time connecting with them. He can not relate with them. Lambeau wants to clean Will up and progress with his prodigy skills so he turns to his college roommate, Sean.
I think that when he was saved by Professor Lambeau and put on probation plus attend the therapy sessions that Will eventually makes something of himself. He deserves to be around smart intellectual people like his girlfriend Skylar, who attends Harvard University. His genius intellectuality needs to be challenged and should be noticed. I think that when Will starts his therapy and being pushed by Professor Lambeau that he doesn't like it, because he has never been told he is wonderful before, or told that he is great. He is being noticed for once in his life, and doesn't know how to take things seriously. For once in his life, someone wants to listen to Will. Sean wants to know about his life and his feelings. He wants to understand who he is as a person, he cares about him. He doesn't have to talk, and he proves that during one of their therapy sessions when Will and Sean just count the seconds on the clock until there hour of therapy is up.
I think one of the main theme's in this movie is fear. Will sets himself up for future failure so he can avoid the danger of emotional pain. I think that when it comes to Will, he is afraid to take chances because he is afraid to fail which is why I think he has never tried to apply his brilliance. He just settles for what he has, and has never been told to make something of his self and to succeed in life. He is afraid to break free of the lifestyle he grew up in and to challenge himself to something that interests him, such as math. It's almost as if he has a fear of success and a fear of life in general. He has never put his talent to use, and it's almost as if he feels trapped. When Professor Lambeau discovers him solving his math problems, Will automatically fears he is "caught" and in trouble and immediately becomes defensive and runs away. I think he has a fear of life in general because he is afraid to lose the life he has. Being with his friends and Skylar is the happiest he has ever been, and he is afraid that if he pursues his genius math talents that everything in his life will be taken from him. He holds himself back a lot during the movie, because he is in fear.
I think my favorite part of the movie is when Chuckie tells Will…"you don't owe it to yourself, you owe it to me." Chuckie tells Will that it's an insult if he is still a laborer in twenty years, because he would give anything to have what Will has. Will is sitting on a "winning lottery ticket" and he needs to finally move on and make something better of himself. Will is finally told by someone he trust that he needs to move on and better himself, rather than living underclass in the society in which he grew up in.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Good Will Hunting aka Cinderella Story?
While watching Good Will Hunting I actually forgot how good this movie really was. Of course, being older and having a more mature outlook on life probably helps. Not to mention that both actors are handsome! =) This was almost your classic Cinderella story, but instead involving a guy. Will, was an orphan who was incredibly intelligent concerning mathematics. On the other hand he was a lost soul and had a lot of physiological problems concerning his past. No one every wanted to take a chance on Will. He was just known as the janitor in the MIT building. Professor Lambeau saw different, when he discovered Will was the one solving the almost impossible Math problems overnight. Professor Lambeau was wondering why this guy was cleaning floors, rather than doing math problems. It is almost like he stereotypes will in the so called “janitor category”. In the end Will is the so called “Cinderella” because he lands a job with a successful company.
A status confliction that I want to point out is when Will starts to get involved with Skylar, the med student. Will thinks that he is of lower class when meeting Skylar because he knows that she has inherited all this money, and can afford to go to med school. Will is afraid to love and to be loved because of his childhood. There is a scene in the movie when Skylar and Will get into it involving money and love.
Skylar says: “What is your obsession with this money? My father died when I was 13 and I inherited this money. You don't think that every day I wake up and wish I could give it back? That I would give it back in a second if I could have one more day with him? But I can't, and that's my life and I deal with it. So don't put your shit on me when you're the one that's afraid. Will: I'm afraid? What am I afraid of? What the fuck am I afraid of? Skylar: You're afraid of me! You're afraid that I won't love you back! Fuck it, I wanna give it a shot! At least I'm honest with you.
I think this scene opens us up to how scared Will is. He learns where Skylar inherited the money from, and how she did not ask for her dads death. She does not like having all the money. Does money always bring happiness?
Another scene where were see ourselves in a social status is when Will and his best friend, Chuckie get into it. Chuckie knows the ability that Will has. Chuckie does not want his best friend to be a brick layer (like himself) for the rest of his life or janitor, when he knows that he could be making a whole lot more working for the high end companies. Chuckie says “Oh, I don't know that. Let me tell you what I do know. Every day I come by to pick you up. And we go out we have a few drinks, and a few laughs and it's great. But you know what the best part of my day is? It's for about ten seconds from when I pull up to the curb to when I get to your door. Because I think maybe I'll get up there and I'll knock on the door and you won't be there. No goodbye, no see you later, no nothin'. Just left. I don't know much, but I know that.”
I think this film brings a lot of speculation regarding status and education to the table. The past few weeks the books and movies we have been watching each have a theme regarding class, money, and education. I think this movie goes to show you that anything you put your mind too you can achieve, no matter what your past is or your education. The past is the past, look forward to opportunities in the future.
A status confliction that I want to point out is when Will starts to get involved with Skylar, the med student. Will thinks that he is of lower class when meeting Skylar because he knows that she has inherited all this money, and can afford to go to med school. Will is afraid to love and to be loved because of his childhood. There is a scene in the movie when Skylar and Will get into it involving money and love.
Skylar says: “What is your obsession with this money? My father died when I was 13 and I inherited this money. You don't think that every day I wake up and wish I could give it back? That I would give it back in a second if I could have one more day with him? But I can't, and that's my life and I deal with it. So don't put your shit on me when you're the one that's afraid. Will: I'm afraid? What am I afraid of? What the fuck am I afraid of? Skylar: You're afraid of me! You're afraid that I won't love you back! Fuck it, I wanna give it a shot! At least I'm honest with you.
I think this scene opens us up to how scared Will is. He learns where Skylar inherited the money from, and how she did not ask for her dads death. She does not like having all the money. Does money always bring happiness?
Another scene where were see ourselves in a social status is when Will and his best friend, Chuckie get into it. Chuckie knows the ability that Will has. Chuckie does not want his best friend to be a brick layer (like himself) for the rest of his life or janitor, when he knows that he could be making a whole lot more working for the high end companies. Chuckie says “Oh, I don't know that. Let me tell you what I do know. Every day I come by to pick you up. And we go out we have a few drinks, and a few laughs and it's great. But you know what the best part of my day is? It's for about ten seconds from when I pull up to the curb to when I get to your door. Because I think maybe I'll get up there and I'll knock on the door and you won't be there. No goodbye, no see you later, no nothin'. Just left. I don't know much, but I know that.”
I think this film brings a lot of speculation regarding status and education to the table. The past few weeks the books and movies we have been watching each have a theme regarding class, money, and education. I think this movie goes to show you that anything you put your mind too you can achieve, no matter what your past is or your education. The past is the past, look forward to opportunities in the future.
Good Will Dreaming
I would first like to mention that I forgot how adorable Minnie Driver is. With that said, let's start a discussion on the film, Good Will Hunting.
There are so many things we could discuss about this film in relation to class. Dr. B, you were right...I watched the film again and noticed things I had not bothered to notice before. For example, how about one of the themes being the need for middle class identity to be inexplicably tied to their professions? I loved that Sean (Robin Williams' character) had a "superior" education and he got meaning and identity from being who he is, not what he does or who he does it for. Yet, his almost nemesis, Professor whats-his-name (already blocked it out) couldn't comprehend this. In fact, he viewed the decision to not be great when you could be great, a waste and a big mistake. Part of his problem was how he defined being great. I think he felt that to be great, others must notice you are great. But is that really a reasonable or logical way to live your life? I would venture to say absolutely not. Life should be more than your job and certainly shouldn't be tied to what others think of you. Yet the professor could see it no other way.
I enjoyed picking apart Will's character during the film. When I watched it years ago I did the same thing but there were a few things I didnt notice last time. For instance, I picked up on Will's discomfort among the middle class. His discomfort was so intense that he knowingly drew attention to how he was like his friends and avoided anything that demonstrated his differences. Will seemed to find comfort in his belonging. Of course, considering his childhood, one could understand the desperate need to belong. He was treated as an insignificant as a child and he learned to treat himself the same as an adult. This mechanism also served to protect him from the disappointment and rejection of others. His emotional distance kept him safer but his ordinary demeanor kept others from singling him out. If you compare his behavior to that of his friends in the Harvard bar, his attitude changes a bit. No longer is he content to blend in or belong when his friend is threatened. He clearly demonstrates his ability and uses it to put his foe in his place. He does so because he knows this jerk is a phony and doesnt even think for himself. he knows that this phony does not expect to be outsmarted by someone like Will. It gave Will great pleasure to prove him wrong.
Chuckie at one point tells Will that he awaits the moment when Will doesnt answer the door when Chuckie shows up to pick him yup for work. He wants and expects Will to use his talent to take him to places that Chuckie could not go. Chuckie is all too aware of his status and does not seek to change it, but accepts his lot in life. Is it true that Chuckie could not alter his class or position? Is he being realistic about his situation or just a pessimist? Would an education have been wasted on him? I suppose only Chuckie knows that part. An education is only worth what you do with it. But he certainly seemed to be well aware of Will's potential and didnt find the need to keep Will down to elevate himself. Instead, he gained some pride in pushing Will to improve his lot.
Was it also noticeable to you that Sean was the epitome of a straggler (which caused him great distress at times). But that coming from a blue-collar background gave him a set of values and guidelines that were highly contrasted by those held by his roommate and other classmates. In fact, I would say that Sean was probably pushed to choose a more spiritually rewarding career over a prestigious one because he was disgusted with who and what he saw in those people & their professions. Sean wanted instead to be his own man and be lead by his heart. The contrast between him and Professor Lambeau was immense and their ideas and values vastly different. In the end Sean learned to practice what he preached, Will learned vulnerability leads to real living and Professor Lambeau....well, we hope he learned that rules, prestige, awards, notoriety and social elevation is nothing more than a bag full of #@%$ at the end of your life.
There are so many things we could discuss about this film in relation to class. Dr. B, you were right...I watched the film again and noticed things I had not bothered to notice before. For example, how about one of the themes being the need for middle class identity to be inexplicably tied to their professions? I loved that Sean (Robin Williams' character) had a "superior" education and he got meaning and identity from being who he is, not what he does or who he does it for. Yet, his almost nemesis, Professor whats-his-name (already blocked it out) couldn't comprehend this. In fact, he viewed the decision to not be great when you could be great, a waste and a big mistake. Part of his problem was how he defined being great. I think he felt that to be great, others must notice you are great. But is that really a reasonable or logical way to live your life? I would venture to say absolutely not. Life should be more than your job and certainly shouldn't be tied to what others think of you. Yet the professor could see it no other way.
I enjoyed picking apart Will's character during the film. When I watched it years ago I did the same thing but there were a few things I didnt notice last time. For instance, I picked up on Will's discomfort among the middle class. His discomfort was so intense that he knowingly drew attention to how he was like his friends and avoided anything that demonstrated his differences. Will seemed to find comfort in his belonging. Of course, considering his childhood, one could understand the desperate need to belong. He was treated as an insignificant as a child and he learned to treat himself the same as an adult. This mechanism also served to protect him from the disappointment and rejection of others. His emotional distance kept him safer but his ordinary demeanor kept others from singling him out. If you compare his behavior to that of his friends in the Harvard bar, his attitude changes a bit. No longer is he content to blend in or belong when his friend is threatened. He clearly demonstrates his ability and uses it to put his foe in his place. He does so because he knows this jerk is a phony and doesnt even think for himself. he knows that this phony does not expect to be outsmarted by someone like Will. It gave Will great pleasure to prove him wrong.
Chuckie at one point tells Will that he awaits the moment when Will doesnt answer the door when Chuckie shows up to pick him yup for work. He wants and expects Will to use his talent to take him to places that Chuckie could not go. Chuckie is all too aware of his status and does not seek to change it, but accepts his lot in life. Is it true that Chuckie could not alter his class or position? Is he being realistic about his situation or just a pessimist? Would an education have been wasted on him? I suppose only Chuckie knows that part. An education is only worth what you do with it. But he certainly seemed to be well aware of Will's potential and didnt find the need to keep Will down to elevate himself. Instead, he gained some pride in pushing Will to improve his lot.
Was it also noticeable to you that Sean was the epitome of a straggler (which caused him great distress at times). But that coming from a blue-collar background gave him a set of values and guidelines that were highly contrasted by those held by his roommate and other classmates. In fact, I would say that Sean was probably pushed to choose a more spiritually rewarding career over a prestigious one because he was disgusted with who and what he saw in those people & their professions. Sean wanted instead to be his own man and be lead by his heart. The contrast between him and Professor Lambeau was immense and their ideas and values vastly different. In the end Sean learned to practice what he preached, Will learned vulnerability leads to real living and Professor Lambeau....well, we hope he learned that rules, prestige, awards, notoriety and social elevation is nothing more than a bag full of #@%$ at the end of your life.
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