what's the concept of intelligence of the movie good hill hounting?

Answer 1

I've seen the movie several times, and I'm not sure there is a dedicated concept of intelligence in there per se.

Part of the problem is that Will is simply so hyper-competent at just about everything, it's hard to say WHY he is exactly so. The character is obviously a speed-reader (he reads a textbook in one night, and gets sleep besides) has photographic memory (he can recite the textbook word for word) and what's more, he has the elusive ability to actually UNDERSTAND all that information he quickly absorbs and recites.

What does this make intelligence? It's hard to say. Perhaps the movie has more to say on what intelligence ISN'T. Will lacks self-control and emotional maturity. He is brilliant, but far from reasonable. He's willing to learn whole subjects just out of spite. He can't acknowledge his own feelings and desires. In short, he's a pretty badly damaged person.

The movie lays most of the blame for this on his childhood, but seems to argue that his intelligence is more of a hindrance than a help in the situation. His counselor once points out that Will is clever enough to think of a hundred reasons not to do anything, and is thus paralyzed into inaction, where if he had just tried and had even the worst of outcomes he might have been better off.

One of his counselor's retorts against Will's intelligence is also to argue for the ineffable quality of experience. Which is something which Will arguably has almost none of. The implication is that in spite of the vast learning he has about every possible written aspect of things, there is still something he cannot know without that experience. And as far as emotional content, they certainly have a point... but they don't carry the argument much further to really flesh it out.

Will seems to have intelligence, but not experience, maturity, or wisdom. Knowing a few smart people, I would tend to agree that the one certainly doesn't necessary mean the others!

Answer 2

haven't seen the movie but I know if I see it i will disagree with whatever concept they subscribe too. Most people are lost when it comes to conceptualising intelligence especially the western world