One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman is a talented director who isn't getting much work these days. Since starting a career in the United States, the Czech director has proven his excellence in the art of filmmaking. Forman brings compassion and fairness to the biopics of Wolfgang Mozart (Amadeus), Larry Flynt (The People vs. Larry Flynt), and Andy Kaufman (Man on the Moon). Aside from biopics, Forman exceeds in fictional films. His masterpiece, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, is still a popular film nearly 30 years after its release.
A local work farm has sent convicted statutory rapist Randal Patrick McMurphy to a mental health institution for the purpose of evaluation. Mac (as his fellow patients will call him) acts crazy on the job, and his supervisors want to know if he is faking it to get out of working. Initially, Mac enjoys the break from physical labor; however, he soon finds himself engaged in a battle of wills against uncompromising Nurse Mildred Ratched.
Mac's primary goal is to "put a bug so far up [Nurse Ratched's] ass, she don't know whether to shit or wind her wristwatch." A summary of the stunts that Mac pulls to undermine the head nurse's authority include but are not limited to running a small-time casino in the washroom, sneaking himself and his ward mates off grounds to charter a fishing boat, and pretending to watch the World Series.
In adapting Ken Kesey's novel of the same title, the screenwriters must have envisioned Jack Nicholson in the role of McMurphy. To put it poetically, Jack is perfect as Mac. Both the leading actor and his character are charismatic; it is easy to see why several of the patients follow Mac around like scandals to Bill Clinton. Also, Jack's over-the-top style is appropriate in this role. A calm, even-mannered portrayal of Mac would result in a complete loss of credibility in Jack's performance. I simply cannot fathom the idea of anyone else playing the role of R.P. McMurphy, even the respectable Gary Sinise (who was in the Broadway version of Cuckoo's Nest in 2001).
The scenes in which the patients bicker with each other are my favorites. Most of the time, obnoxious Mr. Taber (Christopher Lloyd) pushes pretentious Mr. Harding's buttons, entertaining the other patients and the audience as well. If you have seen this movie before, the word "peculiar" should trigger a certain scene in your mind. Danny DeVito delivers a comical performance as Mr. Martini, a clueless patient. Brad Dourif (Grima Wormtongue in LOTR: The Two Towers) is also memorable in his feature film debut as a stuttering patient who grows especially close to Mac.
If Oscar winners impress you, you'll definitely appreciate Cuckoo's Nest winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress (Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched) at the 1975 Academy Awards ceremony (one of only three films to win the Oscar's Top five awards). Together with the first two Godfather films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest shows that the 1970s is one of the best film decades in Hollywood history.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
McMurphy smuggles in some spirits near the end of the film. Cheers!
McMurphy's idea of romance is banging a bimbo on a boat. The sexuality depicted in this film is wanton and anti-romantic.
Buy this film from Amazon.com
Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com
Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com
Related Articles:
1) Top 10 Nicholson Performances
2) Film Frat's Nicholson Poster Store
3) About Schmidt
