Movie for This Month
Good Will Hunting (1997)
A 1997 drama film with heavy comedic and romantic elements, Good Will Hunting focuses on the titular Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon) who is a misguided but very intelligent college dropout. Specifically, following his arrest for assaulting an officer, Will is given a second chance in the form of his therapist (played by the late Robin Williams). The movie confronts heavy themes of self-sabotage head on, and complex dynamic relationships with Will’s best friend Chuckle (Ben Affleck) and girlfriend Skylar (Minnie Driver). This movie is incredibly well-written, despite being written by Damon and Affleck who were both still amateurs at the time, and balances strong emotional plot beats and very funny scenes with ease. It is one of the few movies that has made me both laugh and cry in the span of only a few minutes. The movie goes over the course of multiple months in the life of Will Hunting, but the overarching message of embracing one’s potential, it feels fitting for a time like graduation.
Movie for Next Month
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy about a hockey player named Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler) realizing that he’s better at golf than he ever was at hockey. Following this realization, and the news that his grandmother might lose her house, he decides to participate in a major golf tournament in order to win the money needed to save his grandma’s house. His childish and messy demeanor heavily drives a stake between him and the more uptight golf players, cementing him as the underdog of the movie in more ways than one. This movie is Adam Sandler at his absolute best. The movie is fun, endearing, and a classic comedy for a reason. Additionally, on July 25th, Happy Gilmore is getting a sequel that will be released on Netflix. Now would be the perfect time to rewatch this classic, or even enjoy it for the first time, due to the upcoming sequel.
Seasonal Favorite
The Truman Show (1998)
A 1998 drama comedy, The Truman Show focuses on a man named Truman Burbank (played by Jim Carrey), who is the star of a reality TV show but does not know it. His whole life, he has been surrounded by cameras, and everyone he’s ever met has secretly been an actor, and only now as an adult man with a wife and a career does the facade begin to crumble around him. I won’t mince words, this is my favorite movie of all time. This movie manages to balance the existential premise of being the only person in the world not in on the joke, the terror that Truman faces realizing his whole life has been a lie up to this point, and still stands strong as a movie about the human condition as a whole. This, in my biased opinion, is the ultimate feel-good film. Every time I watch this movie I spot some sort of new details that I missed previously. This also beautifully shows Carrey’s range, even if he is usually typecast as “just a comedy actor,” while still being recognizable as Jim Carrey.