THE REWATCHABLES · January 25, 2018
A 1997 drama / romance directed by Gus Van Sant, covered in the complete Rewatchables archive.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
The bar confrontation with Clark sets the movie in motion and showcases the ensemble's charm, humor, and tension.
About 24 minSean and Bill especially praise the Red Sox anecdote as a perfect blend of comedy, acting, and emotional breakthrough.
About 24 minThe emotional hug between Sean and Will is treated as the film's signature catharsis, though later they note some viewers find it broad.
About 24 minThe breakup with Skylar and Will's decision to drive after her is debated as romantic, cruel, and defining.
About 24 minThe insult/reveal scene is cited as one of the movie's most famous and durable lines.
About 40 minChucky's 'best part of my day' speech is held up as one of the movie's great friendship scenes.
About 32 minThe long bar scene is seen as necessary and funny, but also the movie's one noticeably slower stretch.
About 48 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsHe believes the relationship is believable and that Skylar understands Will's emotional damage.
Shea SerranoHe thinks the breakup scene is harsh and that Skylar probably never fully gets over it.
Sean FennesseyHe also questions whether the scene is as romantic as people assume.
Sean FennesseyWilliams wins because the performance is irreplaceable and powerful.
Chris RyanWilliams wins because he dominates every scene.
Shea SerranoDamon wins because he carries more of the movie's acting burden.
Bill SimmonsHe sides with Damon in the end, then explains why Williams is still essential.
Bill SimmonsHe doubts a true Red Sox fan would ever skip that game.
Sean FennesseyHe argues the scene works because Will is more artsy than hardcore sports-obsessed.
Chris RyanHe accepts the emotional logic of the scene rather than the sports logic.
Bill SimmonsHe thinks both are all-time scripts and is uneasy about the outcome.
Sean FennesseyHe leans toward Good Will Hunting in the category comparison.
Says the movie still works for him, but the Miramax/Weinstein context now has to be acknowledged.
Opening minutesCalls it one of the movie's great emotional turns and a defining rewatchable moment.
About 16 minTreats the scene as central to the film's emotional payoff, despite later criticism about overstatement.
About 24 minArgues Damon should have won the Oscar and that nobody else could have played Will.
About 32 minCalls this his pick for most rewatchable scene because it combines comedy, performance, and the film's emotional connection.
About 24 minSays the film is a definitive Boston movie and argues it must be judged as such.
About 56 minUltimately picks Williams as the actor who won the movie because his performance is irreplaceable and unforgettable.
About 1:12The panel frames the movie as fundamentally about male friendship and the bond between Will and Chucky.
About 40 minWill's breakthrough with Sean and the idea of being believed in are treated as the film's core emotional engine.
About 24 minThe movie is discussed as a deeply Boston-specific story defined by accents, bars, neighborhoods, and sports culture.
About 40 minThe film's development history is presented as a classic Hollywood saga involving Castle Rock, Miramax, rewrites, and Oscar campaigns.
Opening minutesThe script originally included a CIA/spy-action second half that was dropped.
Opening minutesThere was an Oscar smear rumor that William Goldman had rewritten the script, but Goldman denied it.
Opening minutesA gay sex scene was reportedly inserted into the script to see whether anyone was actually reading it.
About 48 minTerrence Malick suggested the ending where Will chases Skylar instead of leaving with her.
About 48 minRobin Williams ad-libbed the line about his wife farting.
About 48 minThe 'son of a bitch, you stole my line' reaction was also ad-libbed.
About 48 minThe Pudge Fisk scene used licensed baseball footage and was important to the joke working.
About 24 minThe park-bench scene became a memorial site after Robin Williams died.
About 48 minUsed to explain how Damon got Harvey Weinstein interested in making Good Will Hunting.
Opening minutesReferenced as a movie Bill has seen many times and as a screenplay Oscar comparison.
Opening minutesBill and Chris use it as a joke comparison for 'only two' sports-gal style figures.
About 16 minSean jokes that Affleck's later film resembles the originally abandoned spy/action version of Good Will Hunting.
About 8 minMentioned as the movie whose acting wins beat Damon and Robin Williams at the Oscars.
About 8 minCited in a discussion of Robin Williams's earlier Oscar-caliber performances.
About 8 minUsed to compare Boston-movie authenticity and Boston accents.
About 40 minReferenced as a possible spiritual cousin or missed opportunity from Gus Van Sant.
About 1:04Used in sequel/speculation and Boston-movie comparison talk.
About 1:20Used as an example of a Mark Ruffalo 'they knew' overacting-style moment.
About 56 minMentioned in a debate about why Affleck wasn't in the movie and whether that affected career dynamics.
About 1:20Referenced as a film/series concept Shea likes because it involves a smart protagonist solving things.
About 1:12Used as a comparison for the National Lampoon film's style in the ad segment.
About 48 minA recurring joke category raised by the show, quickly converted into a Danny Trejo gag and then abandoned.
About 48 minRepeated joking about who is a real Boston sports fan, who would or would not give up a Red Sox ticket, and whether Sean's friends are legitimate fans.
About 16 minThey spin a fake award category for over-the-top acting and connect it to Ruffalo's Spotlight outburst.
About 56 minThey invent multiple absurd Good Will Hunting sequels, including a CIA version, prison version, tech-bro version, and Boston-crime version.
About 1:04The panel repeatedly jokes that Cole Hauser should have become a bigger action villain.
About 56 min“I gotta go see about a girl.”About 16 min
“Our boy's wicked smart.”About 24 min
“It's not your fault.”About 24 min
“How do you like them apples?”About 40 min
“Do you know how easy this is for me?”About 40 min
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before Good Will Hunting, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
Chris RyanThe Rewatchables
Sean FennesseyThe Rewatchables
Shea SerranoThe RewatchablesREWATCH FAVS
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