One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Review

 

        I’m back and it’s July. Doing something as looking through one type of film’s evolution through the years is really something. I guess when you marathon a lot of good films, there’s an appreciation of how a genre changes through time and see how much filmmaking has change. With that, this whole month will be dedicated to the book adaptions. It’s surprising to know that a lot of good films are based on books. I’ve tackled some throughout this initiative, and there’ll be more. Anyways, let’s talk about the Best Picture winner One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. 

1. Randal McMurphy

        My first exposure to the film was with this YouTuber in the early 2010s named James Rolfe. He made a video of his favorite movies, and coincidentally this one made it to his list. Adapted from the book of the same name by Ken Kesey, the story involves McMurphy getting transferred from jail to the mental institute. He believes that getting instituted would grant a quick freedom, not knowing that the asylum is ran by a dictator-esque nurse. 

        Nicholson deservedly won Best Actor with his performance as McMurphy. He’s a criminal first and foremost, but he has that charm where it can bring levity to a room that’s mostly dead. What makes him so likeable is that he’s in a new environment where he’s the normal one. Randal makes quick witted jokes and has that ability to make people open up from being mentally lethargic. 

        The best moments involving him and the motley crew of the asylum is when he helps them play either basketball or how to fish. He’s like the only person that helps them get any sort of stimulation with seeing the world outside the institute’s walls. It’s endearing to see it play out and watch him grow as just a stubborn criminal to someone who cares about them. 

        Obviously, the highlight of the film is when he buts heads with Nurse Ratched. To briefly talk about her for a moment, she is such an antagonist. One would think she’s just a one-dimensional sniveling villain. No, what she does in the movie is much, much worse. She manages to maintain order, but the way she goes about it is just cruel. It’s one thing where Randal puts a vote to watch a baseball game, only to have her dismiss it when she points out that other members didn’t have a say.

        Her character really elicits a very strong emotional thing because, she gets away with her abusive power. Mostly because it’s implied that her superiors notice that she keeps order. It’s also one thing where she isn’t screaming or getting in someone’s face, it’s her calm and mind games that really put down the other inmates in their place. One scene specifically is my favorite of her and it’s when the stutterer Billy tries to stand up to himself. Only to cower down when the nurse threatens to tell his Mom about an incident he did. 

2. Authority and Freedom 

        The big idea of the film and why it really works aside from the characters is this concept of authority and freedom. This movie does convey this idea best. Like I mentioned earlier when talking about McMurphy that he thinks that getting into an asylum would be easy. He realizes that he’s in there when nurses think he’s ready. 

        We see all the inmates go in and get their medicine like Pavlov’s dogs and really have no say in just about anything. Most of their privileges get immediately taken when McMurphy takes them away from the asylum or gambling on cigarettes. It adds to another layer of Nurse Ratched’s character when she removes any chance of their freedom. 

        Before I forget to bring them up, the inmates are great fodder when McMurphy talks to them and exposes them to some semblance of freedom. They’re all interesting and it makes me think just how exactly they got in. We get some moments how and why they’re there. Most of them do have depth, and there’s easily moments where you feel bad for them and they’re dragged to get electro therapy.

3. Legacy

        The film was a hit at the time and it’s a classic. I was surprised by how many actors that were in this film managed to have a decent career. Such as seeing Christopher Lloyd before making it big with the Back to the Future trilogy. And of course, seeing Danny DeVito before seeing him in other films and the show It’s Always Sunny. Doing some research for the film, I was surprised to learn that there’s a series about Nurse Ratched on Netflix. I haven’t seen it, nor would I want to since I feel that any reason to explain why she is the way she is would ruin her character. 

4. Overall 

        One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is classic of the 70s. As far as book adaptations go, it’s a must watch.