Occasionally Heart Warming, Sometimes Terrifying, Often Funny, Always Brilliant!

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2007)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is for me Jack Nicholson's best performance of his career - and we if we look at Nicholson's phenomenal career, that is certainly saying something. Nicholson's turn as R.P.McMurphy is one of the all time great cinematic performances. There are so many different elements to his character it is amazing that Nicholson actually manages to pull it off. He is funny, edgy, angry, dry and almost any other personality description you can think of. His entrance to the film when he kisses the guard on the cheek remains for me one of the great film entrances, and always has me laughing!
However, the supporting cast should not be forgotten. Fletcher, DeVito, Lloyd, Dourif, Redfield and first time actor Will Samspon all give great performances as the supporting cast - blending insanity, confusion and friendship into the film very well! But this is Nicholson's movie, and he steals the show!
There are scenes such as the boat trip which are incredibly well done - and a credit to the director Milos Forman. That scene, as well as others left me with a broad grin spread across my face.
However, be warned, this not movie is not all light hearted. There are some very powerful scenes, such as the final showdown between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy, which even now having seen the film several times, I find hard to watch. Without spoiling the ending, there are other upsetting scenes in this film - and anyone who finds themselves upset or feeling sorry for mentally handicapped people should approach this film with caution, as not everyone in this film is an actor.
Nonetheless, this film is truly a masterpiece, though I would suggest it is not to everyones liking, it is certainly a film that everyone should make the effort to see! 9/10