It truly is wonderful to see a film that tackles real life issues in a fresh and touching way. Nothing the characters talk about or do in GOOD WILL HUNTING, is anything new, but it's fascinating nonetheless because the characters are practically flesh and blood. They are people you know. Good or bad, smart or stupid, these people exist in everyday life. That's what draws you in. The idea is simple enough – Matt Dillon plays Will Hunting, a normal everyday guy from South Boston who just happens to be a math genius. Not only can he solve complex math problems in hours, but he solves them in ways no one else has even dreamed of. Because of his genius, as well as his past (he is an orphan and was abused in several foster homes), he gets into all sorts of trouble with the law and after the latest incident finds himself in jail for good. He comes to the attention of a math professor at MIT (where he's a janitor) by solving a problem in a weekend that took the staff a semester to create.

The professor offers him a solution to his dilemma – work on problems with him and see a therapist every week or stay in jail. Will agrees to the conditions, but that doesn't mean he has to mentally cooperate. He behaves in the math sessions, but plays with the therapists, making fools of six before Jerry calls in a favor from his old roommate, Sean (played by Robin Williams). It is in these sessions that Will finds a true challenger, someone who won't be pushed around or humiliated. Originally a contest of wills, the sessions eventually become a haven, a chance for both Will and Sean to be themselves and to share their pain. These scenes are the most interesting and emotionally rewarding of the film. Williams and Damon are matched in their acting prowess, both emoting great strength and vulnerability.