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1975
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ONE
FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
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STARRING:JACK
NICHOLSON,LOUISE FLETCHER,WILLIAM SAMPSON,BRAD DOURIF,SYDNEY LASSICK,WILLIAM
REDFIELD,DANNY DEVITO, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD,NATHAN GEORGE,DEAN R.BROOKS,MEWS
SMALL, SCATMAN CROTHERS
BASED
ON THE NOVEL BY KEN KASSEY
SCREENPAY
BY BO GOLDMAN & LAWRENCE HAUBEN
PRODUCED
BY SAUL DAENTZ & MICHAEL DOUGLAS
DIRECTED
BY MILOS FORMAN
GENRE:DRAMA
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:18/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:133 MIN
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One
Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest is a
film with an interesting history. Based on the novel by Ken Kassey
(who to this day has refused to watch the movie), the film rights
were bought by actor Kirk Douglas who - although starring in a short
lived stage version - was never able to bring it to the bring screen.
Eventually his son Michael Douglas took over and along with producer
Saul Daentz assembled a talented cast and crew who brought to life
what was deemed to be an un-filmable novel, eventually winning all
the major film categories at the 1976 Academy Awards.
The film focuses on Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a repeat
violent offender who is transferred to a mental institution where
his mental health is to be evaluated. A rebel who has a disdain for
authority, McMurphy raises hell within the once stable environment
drawing the wrath of the cold Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher.)
A moving, at times funny and immensely tragic film, One Flew over
the Cuckoo's Nest demonstrates how the human spirit can be broken
under and rise over an oppressive and rigid system. It is not some
generic nuthouse film. These characters are all too human and all
too real. The many disturbing moments in the film - particularly the
depictions of electro shock therapy - are counterbalanced by the normal
routines of playing cards and group therapy sessions. This is where
the best scripted parts can be found, especially in regards to the
duels between McMurphy and Ratched.
Milos Forman provides strong direction in his Hollywood film debut.
His emphasis on reality can be seen in every shot and every performance.
Filmed inside an actual mental institution (the Oregon State Mental
Hospital to be exact), Forman had his cast (with the exception of
Nicholson) spend time within the institution to get a sense of what
their characters would go through on a daily basis. And they are a
quirky bunch indeed, played by a broad ensemble cast which includes
Danny De Vito, Christopher Lloyd, and Brad Dourif who is great as
the suicidal love lorn, Billy. Will Sampson - who played the mute
Native American Big Chief - also gives a great performance. Along
with Lloyd and Dourif, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest was
Sampson's film debut. Nurse Ratched - the overbearing crusher of hopes
and dreams - is played extremely well by Louise Fletcher who gives
a chilling impression of evil incarnate with her cold, menacing glare
and demeaning tone.
Along with Chinatown's
J.J. Gittes and The Shining's Jack Torrance, Nicholson
perhaps delivers his best and most memorable performance with Randal
McMurphy. A charming and charismatic actor who always contains a madness
bubbling underneath, Nicholson evenly portrays the psychotic, rebellious
and sensitive emotions found in McMurphy. It is a combination of machismo
and surprising fragility which creates a unique whole.
A great cast, great screenplay and great performance makes One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest an enjoyable and thought provoking
movie. |
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