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MOVIE

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Directed by Gus Van Sant•2h 7m•Published Aug 22, 2023•Episode length 3h 16m
Episode 188 - Good Will Hunting
Drama

Top cast

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Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Will Hunting
Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Sean Maguire
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Chuckie Sullivan
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård
Gerald Lambeau
Minnie Driver
Minnie Driver
Skylar
Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck
Morgan O'Mally
Cole Hauser
Cole Hauser
Billy McBride
Vik Sahay
Vik Sahay
MIT Student
John Mighton
John Mighton
Tom
R
Rachel Majorowski
Krystyn

Director

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Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Director
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Overview

Headstrong yet aimless, Will Hunting has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he secretly solves highly difficult graduate-level math problems, his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau, who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. When Will is arrested for attacking a police officer, Professor Lambeau makes a deal to get leniency for him if he gets court-ordered therapy. Eventually, therapist Dr. Sean Maguire helps Will confront the demons that are holding him back.

Show notes

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Get ready for some conversations about if you like apples. Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan and Georgia (Megan's trying to pick up a retainer in a job interview) as we're headed to MIT in search of a Fields Medal in Good Will Hunting. We certainly won't be unoriginal in our 188th epis…

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Get ready for some conversations about if you like apples.  Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan and Georgia (Megan's trying to pick up a retainer in a job interview) as we're headed to MIT in search of a Fields Medal in Good Will Hunting.  We certainly won't be unoriginal in our 188th episode as we discuss:

  • Matt Damon and if he is the greatest actor of our time
  • The various ways you can interpret the title and if the name of the protagonist ruins it
  • Georgia checks in with which scenes made her cry in this film (it's not a short list)
  • Why is Sean Maguire's freak-out so powerful
  • Who did the studio want to play the Will & Chuckie parts instead of Matt & Ben?
  • Who did Matt & Ben see playing the Sean Maguire role when they wrote it?
  • What practical joke did Damon & Affleck play on the studios to see if they wrote the script
  • Who is the unlikeliest hero of ensuring this film got made with Matt & Ben in the lead roles
  • There's another good coda this week
  • Whether or not Good Will Hunting is the Best Film Ever

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