The great thing about anniversary editions is that they’re usually packed with new features, updated perspectives by those that were involved with the film, and are usually released on whatever new format is available at the time and have never looked better. The downside to anniversary editions is that you realize that it’s been 10, 15, maybe even 25 years since the movie was originally released, and the fact that you’re getting older right alongside the film slaps you in the face. How do you like them apples?
It’s been 15 years since Matt Damon and Ben Affleck broke onto the scene with their Academy Award winning screenplay (and Best Picture nominee) Good Will Hunting, and it’s still as great now as it was then. There’s quite a history behind this film, and how Damon and Affleck basically started writing it while they were out of work in an attempt to, well, get work. For those that don’t know, the pair wrote the film with every intention of starring in it themselves, which isn’t exactly how things were done at the time. Selling a script is hard enough, let alone when you’re telling the guys with all the cash that you – in this case Damon and Affleck, who were all but nobodies at the time – won’t sell it to them unless they guarantee that you can star in it.
But, as history proves, these two put it all on the line and it paid off royally. What was the big selling point? Simple: the script was near perfect. In fact, it was bringing some major directorial names out of the woodwork, including Mel Gibson, who had just directed the Oscar winning Braveheart. Not only did he want to direct the film, he also wanted to co-star in it in the role that eventually went to Robin Williams. Gibson eventually passed out of respect to Damon and Affleck, who asked him simply to make a choice so that they could get the movie made, which shows that these two really had some grapefruits back in the day.
Now, it’s the 15 year anniversary of the film and fans (and those who have yet to see the film) are treated to a beautiful Blu-ray version of the film, and an hour long bonus feature that catches up with the cast and crew who give their in-depth perspectives on the film, how it impacted them and in some cases how it helped make their careers. Of course, this isn’t the first time the film has been released on Blu-ray; in fact, the most recent release was only a year ago, which makes you wonder why they didn’t just wait a year and simply release this edition. Still, for fans who may be somewhat irked, it may be a bit calming to learn that the 15th anniversary edition is priced extremely well, making a double-dip all the more tempting for the hour long bonus interviews.
For those who haven’t seen it, Good Will Hunting follows a troubled youth who lives in Boston, Massachusetts and works as a janitor at a local university. The catch is, he’s a complete genius who simply lacks direction and a true identity. After getting in trouble with the law, Will (Damon) is given a proposition by a professor (Stellan Skarsgard) at the university who sees his potential and knows how great this boy could be with the right guidance. The proposition is that Will either goes to jail, or he can help the professor work on extremely difficult math equations (which might as well read as 1+1 in Will’s eyes), and also attend counseling with a former colleague of his, Sean Maguire (Williams). Will agrees to the terms, which starts him on a journey to self-discovery that affects the lives of everyone around him.
The film was up for nine Academy Award nominations, and it won two (with Williams taking home the gold for his brilliant supporting work). Damon was up for Best Actor in arguably his first starring role (The Rainmaker was released the same year), and it was a well-deserved nod. While writing the words and practicing them inside and out with Affleck definitely helped in Damon’s razor-sharp delivery, it’s still astounding to listen to this young actor tear through such complicated lines with ease. He embodies the part completely, and even though he’s now a major A-list actor known best for his action hero Jason Bourne, it’s mesmerizing watching this young man set the screen on fire so early in his career.
The entire cast help make this movie as emotionally impactful as it is, with Williams sharing moments with Will that just tug on your heartstrings every time they’re together. Skarsgard is also wonderful as the film’s “villain,” even though he has somewhat good intentions for Will deep down. Minni Driver, who plays Will’s love interest in the film, also nabbed a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role here. She’s got some incredibly emotional scenes alongside Damon, and she delivers them spot on. Her emotional vulnerability really showcases the wall that Will has built around himself, and how hard it is to penetrate.
Will’s group of friends consist of Affleck, his brother Casey, and Cole Hauser (who is more recognizable as of late with roles in Tigerland and Pitch Black and will end up giving some viewers like me that “Hey, I didn’t know he was in this,” moment.) All three are great, and it really helps that they were all friends in real life at the time as the chemistry shows on screen. Affleck, of course, gives the strongest performance, with a wonderful speech near the end of the second act that really is an eye-opener for Will, and really hits home with the viewer.
The film was directed by Gus Van Sant, who was the first choice of both Damon and Affleck right from the start. His work here is fantastic, really giving this film a realistic feel that really helps get the message across to viewers, while also allowing themselves to look at their own lives while viewing the picture. That’s not to say we’re all mathematicians, or have some incredible trait; however, there are strong themes in this film that Van Sant really nails in his direction, which allows all of the characters to be relatable in some respect.
Good Will Hunting: 15th Anniversary Edition is a definite must-buy for those who don’t already own the film. It’s a wonderful coming of age story, with relatable characters and fantastic dialogue that’s delivered impeccably by all involved. For those who already own a Blu-ray copy, the bonus retrospective feature may be worth a double-dip to some, though that will depend on how big a fan you are, and how much you want to hear what the cast and crew feel about the film now.
The audio and video quality for this release is superb. The audio comes through clearly, with sharp dialogue and beautiful (Oscar nominated) music by Danny Elfman shining through. The video quality is clear and crisp, with a wonderful choice of colours to really help highlight the emotional levels this film hits.
The special features here are the same as the ones on the previous release, with a couple of notable exceptions; one of which was mentioned above.
4-Part Retrospective: “Reflecting on a Journey: Good Will Hunting 15 Years Later” – This is the feature that is the meat and potatoes of this anniversary release, as we see the cast and crew interviewed in this hour-long piece, with each giving their thoughts on the film as well as stories about how it came to be, and in some cases, how they got involved. Definitely worth watching if you pick this up, and for those who already own the film, this is likely the reason they’re picking it up again.
Matt Damon Remembers Good Will Hunting – This piece is a lot shorter than the interviews above, and may be seen as overkill to some. Still, it’s nice to hear Damon give his thoughts alone on the film (as he does so beside Affleck in the retrospective) and add a bit more insight as well.
Audio Commentary by Director Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck – There isn’t anyone else you’d want to have involved in this commentary, as they’d simply water it down. Having Damon and Affleck talk about their work, and give insight into the writing process of the script as the film is happening, as well as hearing Van Sant talk about certain shots is all any fan (or aspiring writer/filmmaker) needs to hear.
11 Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary – There are over 20 minutes of deleted scenes to check out, and you can decide for yourself whether or not some should have stayed in the final cut, or whether they would have just hindered the film’s strong pacing.
Production Featurette – This is a short featurette that comes in at just under seven minutes in length, with a few interviews woven between the trailer and scenes from the film.
Academy Awards Best Picture Montage – This is simply the clip that was shown at the Academy Awards to promote the film’s nomination. In fact, unless there’s some sort of copyright, I’m surprised they didn’t add Damon and Affleck’s winning speech, and Williams’ too, for that matter.
“Miss Misery” Music Video
Behind-the-Scenes – This featurette is under four minutes in length and is simply a piece showcasing a few scenes being shot relatively quickly. While short, it’s still always interesting to see the process in motion.
Good Will Hunting: 15th Anniversary Edition will be a double-dip for some, and a worthy one at that, for the added retrospective bonus feature if you’re a true fan of the film. For those who don’t own the film, this is the edition to buy, as you really can’t beat the price for a film that definitely deserves a place in your video library.
Alliance Films and Miramax Films presents Good Will Hunting: 15th Anniversary Edition. Directed by: Gus Van Sant. Written by: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser. Running time: 126 minutes. Rating: 14A (R). Released: August 21, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
