One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest — A Review

22nd April, 2019.

I’m guessing you’re not necessarily a quiz fan: are you?

Or possibly you are: I won’t know, unless you tell me.

Either way?

You may or may not know that I do a daily brain teaser: and have done for a while.

Today’s has a theme.

Jack Nicholson.

Yes: today’s his birthday.

~≈§≈~

The reason I mention that … ?



The reason I mention that … is because I’m not a movie fan.

Rather I see myself as someone who likes watching movies: and have done for a while.

So, when I get the chance?

I watch a film.

Either at home, on the proverbial telly … or — if and when I can afford it — at the movies.

Tonight … ?

With time off … ?

I fancied a film.

And, given who’s birthday it is, today?

Felt the film I’ve seen tonight is the only one I could possibly watch …

~≈§≈~

Based on the Ken Kesey novel of the same name, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

opens by showing us Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) being Brough to an unnamed psychiatric hospital: having wangled a transfer to the hospital …

In order to avoid the hard labour at the prison he was serving his rape sentence at.

In the hospital?

• In the hospital, he mets his fellow patients: who include …

Chief Bromden (Will Sampson), a Native American who’s (seemingly) mute.
• Billy Bibbit (a very young Brad Dourif): a young man who’s stutters.
• Max Taber (Christopher Lloyd): one of the few patients sentenced to seat at the hospital.

The ward McMurphy is on … ?

Is run by Nurse Ratchet (Louise Fletcher) … a woman who is controlling, and domineering … and who sees the ward as very much her domain.

And someone who the patients are deeply intimidated by …

The rebellious McMurphy, and the overbearing Ratched … get on like a house on fire.

With the feud seriously starting?   When McMurphy arranges a little fishing trip … …

~≈§≈~

Now … 

“Paul, what did you think,” I hear you cry … ?

At least … I hear you metaphorically cry!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest … is fantastic.

Nicholson is at his wolfish best, in a film whose production rights — initially — had been owned by Kirk Douglas: who’d had a hit with the Broadway stage version back in the 1960s.

But who, by the time a studio got involved?   Was felt too old to play the lead role.

That is … providential, I think.

Nicholson as the anarchic McMurphy, is perfect casting, as is Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratchet: the two are as matched as black and white, law and chaos, good and evil …

And whose antagonistic relationship drives the whole film in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else.

That … ?

Is possibly only part of what earned One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest the big five Oscars.

~≈§≈~

The rest of those Oscars … ?

I have said this before, and will possibly say this again: I am someone who likes a good film, but couldn’t necessarily explain the hows, why's and wherefores of what make a good film, a good film.

All I can say?

Is that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest tells us the very human story of a man who’s life has set him to be some trying deeply to be someone who want’s to fight the good fight, and do various amounts of good … 

AND having to deal with an establishment he really doesn’t like.

Frankly?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is possibly one of THE movies.

Go see it.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
★★★★