ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
A film review by David Landers
Copyright 1997 David Landers
RATING: **** out of **** - 9.0 out of 10.0 CAST: Jack Nicholson (Randle Patrick McMurphy), Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched), Brad Dourif (Billy Bibbit), Danny DeVito (Martini), Will Sampson (Chief), Christopher Lloyd (Taber) DIRECTOR: Milos Forman CERTIFICATION: R (USA) for language YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1975 ACADEMY AWARDS: Best Picture, Best Director (Forman), Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Fletcher), Best Adapted Screenplay (Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben) ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS: Best Supporting Actor (Dourif), Best Cinematography (Bill Butler and Haskell Wexler), Best Music (Jack Nitzsche), Best Film Editing (Richard Chew, Sheldon Kahn, and Lynzee Klingman)
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is definitely one of the most memorable films of recent years. Absolutely brilliant performances are turned in by many, although Jack Nicholson's role as Randle Patrick McMurphy stands out more than any. McMurphy is a seemingly common man who just cannot keep himself out of trouble. In addition, Louise Fletcher's portrayal as the evil Nurse Ratched is outstanding. Moreover, the supporting cast is full of familiar names in their very early roles, including Christopher Lloyd (his first appearance ever) and a young Danny DeVito, both performing as mental patients.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is a very convincing look into the lives and events of mental patients and the different world that takes place behind closed doors of a mental institute. Milos Forman turns in an extremely wonderful directorial performance in his first award winning movie, and, in fact, only the third American movie he directed. The film is also a rebellious film, in which Jack Nicholson's character, McMurphy, leads a "peasant uprising" against the cruel ways of the current leadership, headed up by Nurse Ratched. Until McMurphy arrives, the mental patients do not so much as think to question the authority. But that all changes once McMurphy steps in.
On his most recent prison sentence, McMurphy formulates a plan. His plan? Pretend that he is insane so that he can get out of doing the standard prison work. Apparently, though, his performance is a little too convincing. He is sent to a mental hospital and admitted as a patient. The head doctors of the institute examine and question him. He is direct to admit that he may do things that seem "crazy", but he definitely does not belong in the mental institute. Alas, the doctors feel that he does, indeed, belong as a patient, and he is admitted. Once inside, he is subjected to the life that is led. The rules are strictly followed and the type of activity that McMurphy enjoys is condemned.
Of course, McMurphy cannot bear to live his life this way, and he bends the rules every way that he can. This includes testing Nurse Ratched's authority and patience every way he can, as well as setting up his own small "gambling casino" in the washroom. This does not last long, for once McMurphy makes away with everyone's cigarettes (the currency), Nurse Ratched closes his operation. McMurphy also attempts to befriend Chief, a very large Indian who is a patient at the hospital. Chief is "a deaf dumb Indian who can't say a word" according to the other patients, but McMurphy is intent on teaching him, to begin with, how to play basketball. He teaches him well, for when the patients and workers organize a game, Chief steals the show. Chief also assists McMurphy in escaping. McMurphy decides to steal the bus and take the group for "a ride". Once McMurphy picks up a female friend, he takes the bus to a shipyard where he convinces watchman that the men are a group of doctors from the mental institute. In a very memorable scene, each rather convincing "doctor" is introduced. The group then takes a boat for a fishing trip.
McMurphy gets his second strike against him when he gets into a rumble with a few of the attendats, and he then receives ECT therapy. But the third, and most devestating strike occurs when McMurphy decides to host a little "get together" inside the hospital one night. The consequences of this are devestating and lead to a very emotional ending.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is a marvelous, sensational film that will be long remembered as a film about a courageous man who changes the lives of a group of mental patients and is not afraid to stand up to authority. Definitely worthy of the many awards that it and it's cast and crew members received, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST should not be missed.
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