The subject of this week’s Cultural Toolbox was 1997’s Oscar-winning drama Good Will Hunting.

The film was directed by Gus van Sant, and featured what many would consider one of the late Robin Williams’ finest performances. It also marked the breakthrough film for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck - who not only starred in the film, but also wrote it. Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgård also feature

Shane and John didn’t quite see eye to eye on the film. John’s a big fan (albeit a fan happy to admit the central premise of the film is fairly ridiculous), but Shane was a little bit more reserved in his praise - while he admitted it was a good, enjoyable film, he also criticised it for being less than subtle in many respects. He compared it to a Rocky for the 1990s, although also pointed out that there are some intriguing theories out there about the film...

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While not everybody is going to agree on the quality of the film itself, it undoubtedly had a significant impact on almost every major player involved in its production:

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

It’s fascinating to look back at Good Will Hunting - a modest character drama - as the film that launched two bona fide Hollywood superstars. Ben Affleck had enjoyed some notable roles prior to the film - most significantly in a number of Kevin Smith films - but neither of the two friends could have expected just how much of an impact Good Will Hunting would have on their careers. One of them is the new Batman, after all.

Of course, a lot of it boiled down to their co-written script. They have a clear connection with and passion for the material, and watching the film it’s clearly a labour of love for the pair. It’s a little disappointing, perhaps, that their writing careers haven’t been as fruitful as their acting ones. Damon has collaborated with van Sant on a number of their scripts, and Affleck co-wrote two of his directorial efforts (Gone Baby Gone and The Town). But Good Will Hunting definitely stands out as an impressive debut script, and it would be fascinating to see what the pair could achieve with a further screenwriting collaboration.

Robin Williams

When everybody was reflecting on the rich and varied career of Robin Williams following his tragic death last year, Good Will Hunting was undoubtedly one of the standouts in the filmography. Although best known for his comedic performances, Williams had appeared in many dramas before, such as Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King. He’d also picked up plenty of awards along the way, so he was much more than just a box office draw.

Good Will Hunting was, however, the film that bagged the beloved actor his one and only Oscar (for Best Supporting Actor). Indeed, his work as Sean Maguire was without doubt one of his most engaging and reserved performances. William went on to continue playing against type in films like Insomnia and One Hour Photo: much darker performances that would have been even more of a surprise had he not earned the respect of audiences and critics alike in work such as Good Will Hunting.

The director

Good Will Hunting remains the biggest hit of director Gus van Sant’s career, and also one of the prolific director’s most critically acclaimed productions. Good Will Hunting was the follow-up to well-received smaller films such as Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho. The former saw him win several significant directing awards, including an Independent Spirit Award. Good Will Hunting, meanwhile, saw him pick up his first Academy Award nomination.

The $200m+ box office success of the 1997 film would likely have seen another director tackle bigger blockbusters. But van Sant to his credit has instead continued carving his own path. After following up Good Will… with some bigger budget efforts - including the much-maligned shot-for-shot remake of Psycho - he returned to arthouse productions, such as Elephant and Paranoid Park. He made something of a return to the mainstream with Milk - the critically and commercially successful Harvey Milk biopic, that also earned the director another Oscar nomination. His next film is Sea of Trees, starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts.

The music

We can’t end a discussion on Good Will Hunting without mentioning its remarkable soundtrack. The score was provided by Danny Elfman, and the film features songs from artists like Al Green and The Waterboys. But the soundtrack is above all remembered for the contributions from the late, great singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It helped make more people aware of Smith’s music, and for that we should be forever grateful. Frankly, that Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On walked away with an Oscar ahead of Smith’s Miss Misery is a perfect example of why we probably shouldn’t take the Academy Awards too seriously…