(out of )Directing: Not much to say, except expertly shot.
Acting: Robin Williams won his first Academy Award in a performance that is very good and probably deserves it. Matt Damon in the title role and Ben Affleck in a supporting one both established themselves for high paychecks. Their acting abilities certainly don't undermine their writing prowess. Swede Sk�rsgard's increase in Hollywood roles proves his abilities.
Writing: The original screenplay was illustrious, and won the Academy Award. Yes, profanity abounds, but it is realistic. It easily defined social standings and upbringings. In any case, young people swear all the time, especially males, and I know that from personal experience. The bringing together of the plot idea and the script was very ingenious, somewhat unexpected from talents so young. It is admirable how much insight the two fresh writers have into humanistic psychology, and how they come up with philosophical lines such as, "You don't owe it to yourself, you owe it to us", which I think is a new perspective on things.
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� 1999, 2000 Michael Chen