Carillo, Kathlyn sj.
BSN-3Y2-6
1. Identify the theme of the movie that has significance in psych. Nursing Justify the
theme by citing at least one scene to support answer.
There are several ways to go about treating posttraumatic stress disorder
patients. The conventional method is for the patient to undergo psychotherapy,
but antidepressant drugs are often used as well. The method used on Will is
psychotherapy this has a significance in psych nursing. The goal in undergoing
psychotherapy is to move the victim through the grieving process.
2. Identify the character portrayed by the actors and the significant roles they played
for the movie.
• Robin Williams as Sean Maguire
• Matt Damon as Will Hunting
• Ben Affleck as Chuckie Sullivan
• Stellan Skarsgård as Prof. Gerald Lambeau
• Minnie Driver as Skylar
• Casey Affleck as Morgan O'Mally
• Cole Hauser as Billy McBride
• John Mighton as Tom
• George Plimpton as Dr. Henry Lipkin, Psychologist
The movie good will hunting paints a fairly accurate picture of the life of an abused
orphan. The movie’s success is partly due to the emotions conjured up by the main
character, Will Hunting, and his painful past. The symptoms associated with
posttraumatic stress disorder and an inferiority complex is revealed immediately.
Growing up as an orphan, everyday of Will’s life was a struggle. At one point in the
movie Will reveals a scar that he carries from a stab wound inflicted by his foster
parent. Surely such a traumatic experience at any age, and especially at a young age,
would be enough to cause one to develop posttraumatic stress disorder and an
inferiority complex. It’s at this point that Will’s actions in the movie begin to make a
little more sense. For instance Will only keeps a small circle of friends, to be exact,
three. All three of these friends have known Will since he was a child. Since his early
experiences, Will has thwarted any attempt made by anyone else to get close to him.
This is not the only time Will exhibits this tendency. Later on in the movie Will
develops a relationship with a girl named Skylar. At first everything seems fine, but
when things start to get close and she asks him to go to California with her, he refuses
and looks her straight in the face and tells her he doesn’t love her, when it’s obvious
he has feelings for her. Once again Will withdraws, scared that if he allows anyone to
get close, he could be hurt again.
I really enjoyed the film, on another level than I have been able to enjoy movies in the
past. To me, this film showed me that I was prioritizing the wrong things in my life. I
feel that if somebody didn't appreciate this movie, it simply means that they can't
relate to his character. Myself, being a teenager, has to deal with many situations
portrayed in this film. I am a Christian, and even though this movie doesn't have
much of God in it, I still feel that if you look deeper, you will see what God was
trying to say… In my opinion, “Good Will Hunting” may have been the best movie I
have ever seen.
I really enjoyed the film, on another level than I have been able to enjoy movies in the
past. To me, this film showed me that I was prioritizing the wrong things in my life. I
feel that if somebody didn't appreciate this movie, it simply means that they can't
relate to his character. Myself, being a teenager, has to deal with many situations
portrayed in this film. I am a Christian, and even though this movie doesn't have
much of God in it, I still feel that if you look deeper, you will see what God was
trying to say… In my opinion, “Good Will Hunting” may have been the best movie I
have ever seen.
The underlying themes of “Good Will Hunting” were undeniably love and healing. If
Christ is not embodied in this, then where else do we find him? Although the movie
did not include some trite, blatant recognition or acceptance of Christ, it was a
remarkably realistic portrayal of a young man's journey from entrapping pain to
healing through the power of love. Robin Williams' character was the Christ figure in
that he gave himself in love to someone in need. “Good Will Hunting” makes an
incredible statement on the importance of friendship, the strength of love, and the
hope for healing.