Review of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) by Whit W — 31 Aug 2013

This film has such a solid cast, it was probably easy for Milos Forman to direct. He gets plenty of credit for the movie's success but the characters are so interesting and there's so much tension between free-spirit Nicholson and the authoritative Nurse Ratched, it couldn't have been too difficult.

This is Nicholson's best performance. He plays Randle McMurphy, who really fits his persona perfectly. In fact, maybe Jack wasn't acting at all. Brad Dourif is amazing as the innocent Billy and there's nothing you can do but love Will Sampson as Chief.

There aren't a lot of films that have been both as funny and as devastatingly sad as this one. It steered clear of preaching about mental illness but it definitely made a case for more thoughtful examination of the sick.

The only real problem is with the ending. It really clouds the purpose of McMurphy. He's a troublemaker that indirectly helps Chief but actually brings about the demise of many of the other patients.