I Used to See Myself in 'Good Will Hunting'

Two decades after its release, the Harvey Weinstein-produced drama doesn't feel the same. [ view in browser.   add esquire@newsletter.esquire.com to your address book ]             FOLLOW US       I Used to See Myself in Good Will Hunting   Under normal circumstances, Good Will Hunting, released 20 years ago this week, would be taking a victory lap. The 1997 Gus Vant Sant film saw Robin Williams earn his only Oscar win and made Matt Damon and Ben Affleck household names (while netting each of them a screenwriting Oscar, too). The coming of age film seemed like a classic. Twenty years ago, "Boston" as a genre of entertainment was a relatively unique idea, Cheers notwithstanding. At the time, we were still the underdogs, known, if for anything besides history, for being a hard-scrabble city of lovable losers, defined by the failure of our sports teams rather than the largesse of their victories as we are now. Let me put it this way: You didn't hate Boston in 1997. Today, you do. It was a thrill to see that city reflected onscreen for the first time, to have your provincial identity reflected back at you. Especially for a suburban kid who was desperate to begin the part of his life defined by living in Boston. Never mind that it was a simulacrum. When you see yourself being seen for the first time, even if through a filter, it's a hell of a drug. READ MORE       Our Greatest Challenge as Men Is Still Ahead of Us   Even good guys have a duty to search out the part you might have unconsciously played in the army of the patriarchy. Read On         Richard Sherman on NFL Protests, Trump, and This Particular Media Moment   The Seahawks star sounds off on life both inside and outside of the league. Read On         My Experience at Charlie Rose Went Beyond Sexism   As one powerful man after another faces allegations of sexual misconduct, we're still not talking about the ramifications for black women. Read On         The 30 Best Christmas Songs of All Time   You have to admit that you love some of these songs. Read On         I Don't Think the Moral High Ground Exists Anymore   Some thoughts on Al Franken's departure. Read On       Unsubscribe •  Privacy Policy   esquire.com ©2017 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019