Matt Damon

Damon said Robin Williams improvised the film's final line after many takes.

“he read the letter and he said, son of a bitch, he stole my line. And I grabbed Gus”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 43:44

Damon said he began writing Good Will Hunting for a Harvard class, submitting a first act instead of a one-act play.

“we were supposed to write a one-act play, and I wrote— I wrote the first act of a three act movie”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 26:59

Damon said Nolan uses as few special effects as possible, relying on in-camera work and top effects teams where needed.

“basically he does as little special effects as humanly possible, which means you can do quite a bit without CGI”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 32:31

Damon said The Odyssey was the hardest film he has made but was joyful and felt like an expedition.

“though it was the hardest movie that I've ever done by far, was so joyful”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 29:42

Damon said going gluten-free in recent years has completely changed his life.

“it's completely changed my life these last couple years of not eating it”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 58:29

Damon said Water.org has reached 92 million people through microfinance, far faster than drilling wells would have allowed.

“had we stayed with drilling wells, it would have taken us 600 years to get to where we are today”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 1:05:21

Damon explained he planned to direct and star in Manchester by the Sea but handed it to Lonergan and gave the role to Casey Affleck.

“I called Kenny and I was like I'm putting you in a position to fail here like let's take a breath”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:15

Damon said the only legitimate excuse for a bad performance is not knowing what movie one is in.

“the only excuse an actor has, and it's a legitimate excuse if you suck in a movie, is I didn't know what movie I was in”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 54:07

Damon said Soderbergh delivered fully scored edited scenes the same evening, helping actors calibrate performances.

“it was the scene we shot that day, fully scored, as it was going to appear in the movie when it came out nine months later”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 53:24

Damon argued that working with a great actor like Philip Seymour Hoffman carries the scene for both performers.

“When when when you're working with a great actor, they're great enough for both of you”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 47:49

Damon said that as SNL host he prioritizes the best show over his own screen time, even cutting sketches he was heavily in.

“I always say to Lauren, like, just I want the best show”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 38:11

Damon recounted that George Clooney rescheduled the Syriana shoot so he could fly home for the 2004 World Series.

“I called him immediately and he said, I already redid the entire schedule. You can go home”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 24:58

Damon said he and Ben Affleck have entered a phase of life focused on pursuing joy in life and work.

“it's about really the pursuit of joy in our lives and in our work”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 29:15

Damon recounted that a Navy SEAL on the crew called the Odyssey script the best depiction of PTSD he had encountered.

“And he said, I think this is the best movie about PTSD”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 17:11

Damon described Nolan as an underrated writer whose directing overshadows his screenwriting.

“He's a really underrated writer, I think, Chris, because he's such a brilliant director that it kind of overshadows his writing”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Matt Damon (Jul 7, 2026) · Listen from 16:24