Good Will Hunting: Overcoming Fear

Ben Afflecks speech near the end always brings tears to my eyes. Admitting to a dear friend that you're not what they need is one of the hardest things imo.

Just hearing the “it’s not your fault” a couple times is enough to bring tears to my eyes again. Such a good movie, so moving.

Will's reaction to being told it's not his fault is the perfect example of someone knowing something vs. believing it. Intellectually he knows that a victim of abuse is a victim but deep down inside he still blames himself and Sean has to use all his skills and love for Will to break through.

Someone said something to me last week that resonated so true to me and how I live in complete fear… “If you lock a horse in a paddock for 7 years, when you finally open the gate, they won’t leave because they think that the gate is still closed. He said my gate is open but for seven years I’ve felt like a prisoner in my mind and in my home.

I absolutely LOVE how it’s Chucky who finally gets through to him. My absolutely fav part of the movie because it’s so subtly important and says a lot about the impact your best friends can have.

Small note Will is a Janitor at M.I.T. not Harvard as evidenced by the crest on Dr. Lambeau's jacket and the fact that M.I.T. is renowned for its mathematics programs while Harvard is more renowned for is law and medicine programs. Otherwise this is an excellent video essay.

RIP The two gentle souls, Rob and Elliot. The world will always miss you.

"Failure isn't about loosing. It's about not even risking trying." What an amazing analysis that has truly opened my eyes to even more, after seeing Goodwill Hunting. Thank you for this video essay.

The "it's not your fault" scene has to be one of the most beautiful and heartwarming movie scenes of all time

If you haven't experienced abandonment and/or abuse, the "it's not your fault" scene may not hit as deep. I had a marriage counselor do that exact thing after I shared my past, first time ever, in a private session with me. Hits hard, but in a good way. 💕☀️

“It’s not your fault” results in floods of tears no matter how many times I watch the film or watch this scene. One of the best ever films in my opinion. The trust and break through in such a short time, is testament to Will and Sean and the therapeutic relationship they embark on. Oh to have found that therapeutic person in my life.

This is the first time I've ever heard the interpretation that Will's 12 brothers are foster siblings. I always assumed he was just having fun, showing that he could rattle off twelve random names, and then repeat them in the same order. Now I think it works either way you read it. Great video!

Good Will Hunting is my all-time favorite movie and seeing this character study on Will about some things that I'm not yet aware of really made me want to watch it again!! Looking forward to more of your videos! Also loved the character study you did on The Godfather!

Will is not a night janitor at Harvard, he’s a janitor at MIT. The girlfriend is at Harvard. Harvard and MIT are just a few miles away from each other in Cambridge, MA.

Concise insightful analysis of how childhood trauma if not dealt with can sabotage your life potential. Respect..

While the story about the World Series game and Will's decision to go to California were orchestrated in the script to show Will's character growth the line "I had to go see about a girl" was an ad lib by Robin Williams that Matt Damon knew would fit perfectly at the end. One of the things that makes Williams' movies so good is that he knows how to play characters that have been injured because he himself was that way and when the characters open up to us on screen we got little glimpses into the amazing man that was Robin Williams.

I have issues with fear too. So hearing this stings much more than it should.

I was diagnosed with severe PTSD, my family loved to torture me, but cognitive behavioural therapy really helped. Confront your fears and you will get braver. People used to terrify me in general but I started forcing myself to be social and look people in the eye and now it's a lot easier.

This video actually moved me to tears, for some reasons more obvious than others

What a great movie. Often we are our worst enemy, without knowing it.