This film is primarily remembered for two reasons: for launching Matt Damon's career and for silencing every one of Robin Williams' critics. Both give powerhouse performances in this film, correctly career-defining, but a certain magic is missing everywhere else.
Will's relationships are one of the film's strong points. Each one is unique, detailed and believable, with a welcome lack of any cliches whatsoever. Gus van Sant's identifiable art-house flourishes are pared to the minimum, which only enhances the overall effect and distinctive look of the film. And for a supporting cast of not-very-big players they do a terrific job of keeping up the atmosphere, even the much-maligned Ben Affleck, here in a performance pulling more weight than everything he's done in the last 11 years combined since.
This may be one of Williams' rare opportunities to flesh out a character who is both typically irreverent but also emotionally affecting at the same time, but it's Damon who steals… more »

This film is primarily remembered for two reasons: for launching Matt Damon's career and for silencing every one of Robin Williams' critics. Both give powerhouse performances in this film, correctly career-defining, but a certain magic is missing everywhere else.
Will's relationships are one of the film's strong points. Each one is unique, detailed and believable, with a welcome lack of any cliches whatsoever. Gus van Sant's identifiable art-house flourishes are pared to the minimum, which only enhances the overall effect and distinctive look of the film. And for a supporting cast of not-very-big players they do a terrific job of keeping up the atmosphere, even the much-maligned Ben Affleck, here in a performance pulling more weight than everything he's done in the last 11 years combined since.
This may be one of Williams' rare opportunities to flesh out a character who is both typically irreverent but also emotionally affecting at the same time, but it's Damon who steals the show. Calling to mind Conrad in 'Ordinary People' his Will is an even more extreme paradox, born not into a seemingly stable middle-class family but brought up in the underbelly of a cynical city. Hunting is a kid so tortured and beaten up that come the final breakthrough one can't help but want Williams' Sean to succeed as much as he does. All acting prizes and nominations are unquestionably deserved.
Yet, something niggles and doesn't quite feel right. Will and Chuckie's friends are an oddball bunch, a strange cross between the simple beings in 'The Deer Hunter' and the manchildren that litter Kevin Smith's CV (no wonder he signed on as exec producer then.) The story has pretty much no driving narrative or clear destination; another talk piece over anything more 'cinematic'. And while the script is expertly detailed and crafted, it still feels cold and detached, unprofessional, which is no surprise given Affleck and Damon wrote it. It's a worthy piece, but not a very likeable one.
Which pretty much sums up the film as a whole. Like its titular character it's intelligent, surprising, quirky and balanced, but it's not going to be held close to your heart as a life-changing piece of celluloid. Which it doesn't have to be, and wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't the goal it tries to aim for.
A well-done and crafted film, but not a very likeable one, or very memorable.