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Created Feb 23, 2011 01:26PM PST • Edited Feb 23, 2011 01:26PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   A complicated movie about a complicated young man (Matt Damon) who has a brilliant IQ, but chooses not to pursue any perceivable functional use of this gift, instead opting to cling to the security of his rough friends and the sometimes brutal streets of South Boston. His voracious appetite for reading, along with his uncanny ability to memorize and recite difficult academic theories draws the attention of an uber-educated professor (Stellan Skarsgard) who tries to harness his ability and propel him to academic stardom. In the meantime, this push for academic excellence is offset by hard-core psychoanalysis by an equally brilliant, yet overshadowed, community college psychology professor (Robin Williams) who helps Will to understand himself and address his demons.

   A rich, deep film, which I found very enjoyable.

   Watched on DVD.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Damon was very good as the lead character, and Williams was equally compelling in playing the tormented, yet hard-nosed therpaist who helps Will develop what he truly wants.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Great 4.0

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.2

17. Sex Innocent 1.5

    Nothing notable

18. Violence Fierce 2.1

    Fist fighting and street violence. No guns or knives.

19. Rudeness Profane 3.0

    Consistent use of swear words, along with a confrontational and demeaning attitude as a defense mechanism by many characters.

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0