It's not just the writing, it's the awareness of the production issues. They only budgeted an hour to get the scene, and in the same time he gave them multiple options.
It shows some give and take; Nicholson is clearly a little full of himself over the years, but he knows enough that he can present an idea that he came up with in a way that doesn't cost the production anything other than hearing him out. If he was truly pretentious and a drama queen like many actors are, he could try to hold up the shoot until they try his idea, and do it several times until he feels they got it right. Then they'd have a bad experience all around, but they're not likely to pin it on Nicholson because he's an A tier actor .. they'll just skim it from somewhere else down the road to make up the loss; which could still end up being a great scene, but they could have altered the film in another spot that doesn't make up for what they gained. He's also probably good enough as a story teller / writer to know the whole thing could have just been a good gag, because the comedic timing of it shows in Damon's reenactment of the "You could end it there..." , as if he's just dragging it out into absurdity to see how long he can make the joke last.
Why would you need Matt Damon to have won an Oscar to believe Nicholson is "good"? That's moronic. Nicholson was and is one of the greatest minds in the history of films, not just American films, it's not even a matter of opinion.
Looks like a super nice guy, but he was always as one dimensional as it gets. Wasn't there a law suit with that Oscar winning script as Afleck and another guy also helped write it?
Some are but most are not. I've seen interviews with actors who spent months on set and can barely remember anything about it. Writers though, they remember their shit. So stop sucking actors dicks please. Or keep doing it if that's your thing.
Matt Damon is an amazing storyteller. I've watched this one several times now. His Nicholson impression is also spot on. He should write a book about his encounters in the industry
I've watched this so many times. Such a great story, and Matt tells it so well with great Jack impression. And all this time, I hadn't realized Fortune Feimster was there.
I think the most telling part of this story was that in creating this moment Nicholson gives the *final line* of the scene to Ray Winston. He doesn't need to end the scene himself. Ray Winston's line improves the scene makes his character look better *and* raises Nicholson's character too.
That’s always been one of my favorite scenes in the movie because of how dark and funny it is at the same time, Jack Nicholson is just so fuckin ruthless and then he’s cracking jokes and is really funny and Ray Winstone’s reaction was just priceless. I always wondered how the writer could come up with such a unique moment in a scene that’s only a few seconds long really- I never heard this story til now and now it makes so much sense, it was the actor’s idea in collaboration. Fascinating
Damon does pretty much a bang on perfect impression. It would be cool to see Damon play Jack in a film about his life, or just about that time in Hollywood.
That's what a great actor does - he gives the editors and director a lot to choose from. One of the most amazing examples of this that I have seen is Chistopher Walkin in Catch Me if You Can in the restaurant scene. He delivers the same line (I think) three completely different ways - changing the entire meaning of the statement each time - and then after the third, where he brings himself to tears, pulling raw, heartfelt emotion from the line, he still wanted to give them another version of the line, even as he was wiping tears out of his eyes - but the director was so blown away by what he had just done, he told him there was no need. Amazing skill to be able to call on real emotions of any kind at any moment to achieve that!
The amazing part of that writing is how that introduces the character in such a way that we aren’t told but can understand so much depth at the same time. We aren’t told he’s sinister we actually see and feel it.
Matt has become one of the best storytellers in Hollywood…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched him telling little onset anecdotes, and he always does it brilliantly.
All greats are one - whether their professions or métiers are writing acting directing editing ... - they're storytellers, and to do that well ya gotta intimately know your characters to credibly present their stories. Matt, Jack, Marty, Bobby, Harrison, Marlon, ...they all have this in common.
I appreciate how Jack acknowledged the influence of the late great Roger Corman, one of the all time champions of getting something out of nothing and producing and directing serviceable films on time with negligible budgets. Scorsese also worked under him in the early years and probably recognised what Nicholson was going for.
He does a great Jack Nicholson impression! What a great story about how to make it in Hollywood! Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have obviously been great writers since Good Will Hunting and why they are still 2 of the most well known actors in Hollywood!
I’ve heard the story once before, maybe it was in a full podcast, but it’s still great. It’s hilarious, but it does convey one of the reasons Jack Nicholson is such a great actor and has had such a long career. And the same could be said for Matt Damonas far as his career path has gone.
Matt Damon is a mans man...but his good will hunting is short of righteous jim christian..hes such a mathmatician and a sinister manipulator. A 007 of his earlier works but none the less valted off his friend ben afflect. Without that dual threat of cryptonite acting i don't think his Carrera would have flourished soo.@cryptoshorts007
DAMNNNNN this was a BADASS story, props to Damon for giving us that glimpse Also it’s well known in the “interrogation” scene of Nicholson wondering if Leo was a rat, when he dropped that heavy gun and grabbed it like he accidentally dropped it n you see Leo more scared…THAT WAS ALL IMPROVISED ON THE SPOT… Knowing Nicholson and Scorsese crazy ass not gaf, i guarantee Jack had a real pistol … That scene was all real and improvised Just amazing and one of myriad of reasons, why it will always be n my top 5 fave movies of all time , hands down
I love this story, I actually use it for trying to sort of squeeze extra bits of dialogue or visual and audio story telling out of scenes or paragraphs.
Moral of the story, JN is a sick psychotic person who can fit to his character perfectly. I really wanna see him playing a nice character. Everyone actually knows he is not a good person in real life
Wrong ! When Jack Quit Smoking 🚬 Cigarettes he took up Golf ⛳️ and was Playing a Course in San Diego Torry Pines.My Friend was with Three other guys and Jack walked up to them and asked if he could Join them. They Couldn't believe it. Said he was the Nicest Guy they ever played Golf With. When they were done he Shook Hands with them and thanked them. That's one time they will never Forget!
I like this scene cos it sets up the later scene where Jack berates one of his henchmen for not disposing of a body properly in the marshes. He has prior, intimate experience and knows the lazy bastard didn't didn't put enough effort in.
Jack Nicholson man pure American man. Pure talent in a brilliant fucking mind. Matt Damon you are so lucky to have sat down with Marty and fucking Jack way to go bro.
If anyone ever doubted if they actually wrote the Good Will Hunting script, look at their carreers, and listen to Matt telling this story. They proballbly got some help from other writers(who doesnt?) But both those guys are awesome throug and through.
I love his Jack impression. Not a perfect impersonation, but a great impression - you can always imagine him saying the words MD's putting in his mouth.
What is with these hosts? "So it was me, Jack, and Scorsese in the room." "Hahahahah!" "And then Scorses left so it was just me and Jack." "Hahahahahaha!" Pipe down.
