This week’s soundtrack is ‘Good Will Hunting’. The film, written by and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, predominately featured music by Elliott Smith, as well as a score produced by Danny Elfman.
Elliott Smith’s music is perfectly simplistic and romantic, most notably when the protagonist, Will, and Skylar are together at the cafe with ‘Say Yes’ playing non-diegetically.
However, Smith’s music can also reflect as a sadder notion, like that of a juxtaposing scene where ‘Angeles’ plays as Will Hunting doesn’t reciprocate Skylar’s ‘I love you’.
Elliott Smith also wrote a song specifically for the film, ‘Miss Misery’, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Dissapointingly, Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ won the title – despite Smith giving a beautiful and completely endearing performance at the award show in 1998.
Watch Smith’s performance here:
I chose this soundtrack because I had listened to Elliott Smith before seeing the film, and was curious as to how Smith’s music would be used – only to be completely impressed! However, even if I had not been aware of his music, I’m sure it would have still had the same effect. I remember playing Elliott Smith to my mum, who immediately recognised him as a feature of Good Will Hunting’s soundtrack, proving his instantly recognisable style.
The Film DJ 