Today’s quick review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a convict looking for a way out of prison work, feigns insanity to get himself transferred to a mental hospital. There he immediately butts heads with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), the unyielding nurse in charge of the ward. But when Nurse Ratched cracks down on McMurphy’s antics, he realizes that there is only one way out of the hospital for him: escape.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a classic drama based on the novel by Ken Kesey. Jack Nicholson stars as R.P. McMurphy, a rebellious convict who turns a by-the-book psychiatric ward on its head by challenging the authority of the nurse in charge. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest earns its place as a classic thanks to two iconic performances from Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, as well as a layered story and a talented supporting cast.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest revolves around the conflict between R.P. McMurphy and Nurse Ratcehd. The two have personalities that are diametrically opposed. McMurphy is a freewheeling troublemaker who takes every opportunity he can to liven up the ward, while Nurse Ratched is an emotionless woman who uses her power to keep the patients firmly in place. The clash between the two escalates into a battle for the future of the ward.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest supplements this central conflict with supporting details that make it a rich film, if not a comfortable one to watch. The patients in the ward all have distinct personalities and problems, and their interactions range from amusing to tragic. McMurphy takes an already unstable group and spurs them to assert themselves, pushing them to regain their independence from Nurse Ratched with little regard for the consequences.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest makes for a fascinating watch for anyone interested in literary drama or characters with abnormal psychology. The raw nature of the film, the worse traits of some of its characters, and its unconventional story arc will make it a miss for some viewers. But anyone willing to follow the story through to its conclusion will find One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to be an impressively human drama with a lot to say.
For a psychological thriller set at a mental hospital, try Shutter Island. For a science fiction movie with the same sense of chaos, try Twelve Monkeys. For a war satire with a main character who is just as trapped, try Catch-22.
8.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a rich story and iconic performances.