Which brings us to "Good Will Hunting," a rich, rewarding coming-of-age tale starring Will Damon and Robin Williams. The screenplay, written by Damon and his co-star and boyhood friend Ben Affleck ("Chasing Amy," "Going All The Way",) is reminiscent of other male-bonding films, notably "Ordinary People" and "Dead Poets Society," but quite emotionally satisfying in its own right. Their portrait of a lost young man whose unresolved pain triggers explosive outbursts, and the two father figures who battle over his soul, hits all the right notes. Under the assured hand of director Gus Van Sant ("My Own Private Idaho," "Drugstore Cowboys") even the maudlin parts of the story retain an emotional clarity. Like "Hoosiers," "Good Will Hunting" takes a well-worn theme and makes it seem fresh, thanks to exceptional acting and solid, three-dimensional storytelling.

Will Hunting (Damon) is a scrappy young tough from South Boston's Irish ghetto who works as a janitor at a prestigious university. A mathematical genius with a photographic memory, Hunting has no direction, spending his time pounding beer and exchanging mock insults with his buddies, particularly his best friend Chuckie (Affleck.) When MIT Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard from "Breaking The Waves") spots the boy casually solving an advanced math problem, he pursues Hunting, only to find him jailed for assaulting a police officer. Lambeau arranges to take the troubled kid under his wing, with two conditions. Hunting must do math work with the professor and agree to participate in therapy for his antisocial behaviors. Following several disastrous attempts to match the boy with a therapist, Lambeau finally turns to Sean McGuire (Williams,) a psychology professor at a small community college. McGuire, who grew up in the same neighborhood as Hunting, tries to help the boy confront his inner demons, only to find his own painful memories stirred up as well. Further complicating matters is Hunting's awkward courtship of Skylar (Minnie Driver,) a wealthy Harvard senior preparing for medical school.

For men seeking to vicariously relive their adolescence, Will Hunting is the perfect flawed hero. Rakishly handsome and as fast with his tongue as he is with his fists, Hunting has limitless potential, if he can only break through his own emotional barriers. To make the wish-fulfillment scenario complete, he is surrounded by a support system most people only dream of; a group of loving, encouraging pals, a smart, charming girlfriend, and two, count 'em, two father figures trying to help the kid better himself. In lesser hands, this material could have been unbearably mawkish, but thankfully, Damon and Affleck's script balances the angst with loads of earthy humor to keep the proceedings grounded. That, coupled with Van Sant's confident direction and some powerhouse acting, helps "Good Will Hunting" to pay off in grand fashion.

Matt Damon, who made quite an impression in "The Rainmaker," gives a breakthrough performance here. Possessed with tousled good looks and a killer smile, the charismatic actor is utterly convincing as a super- intellect, while maintaining the character's working-class sensibilities. He's really quite remarkable here. Robin Williams does admirable work as well, showing what a fine actor he can be when he restrains himself. As the wounded professor, Williams projects great strength and defiance, tempered by a gentle, caring nature. The chemistry that slowly builds between him and Damon is electrifying.

As Skylar, Minnie Driver has an earthy charm that comes from her willingness to completely let down her guard. Whether telling a dirty joke to the guys at a bar, or breaking into tears in the darkness, she possesses a bracing sense of honesty. It's easy to understand why Hunting is drawn to her.

Also good are Skarsgard as the driven math professor and Affleck as Hunting's closest friend. In fact, there isn't a bad performance to be found in the film. The strong acting, along with Van Sant's ability to make the South Boston setting feel authentic, allows "Good Will Hunting" to triumph over its occasional moments of excess sentimentality. Cynics may dismiss the film as an overly effusive festival of male-bonding, but for the rest of us, this is just the catharsis we need.