A tad ham-handed

Rating: Null/10 (5 December 2003)

I recently saw OFOTC'sN for the first time. I have not read the book by Ken Kesey.
In my opinion, Cuckoo's Nest showcased some brilliant acting, but I honestly thought a lot of the movement of the story was sort of ham-fisted in its obvious allusions to the Bible.
It becomes clear fairly early on that the McMurphy character (played by Nicholson) is essentially a Christ figure or Christ-like figure. When McMurphy takes 12 of his fellow sanitarium inmates on an impromptu fishing trip, the overtones implicating Jesus and the 12 disciples could not have been more obvious . . . save perhaps the protagonist being given the initials, "J.C."
As I watched McMurphy receive his ultimate fate, my feeling was that it was absolutely unrealistic and unbelievable. Why would a law-breaking, vivacious, life-loving man accept the role of sacrificial lamb, other than to mechanically further his role as redemptive Christ figure? I remained wholly unconvinced that a man like McMurphy (at least as depicted in the film) would truly act in that way, eschewing his own personal freedom.
I felt that the movie was well made and that the acting was top-rate (watch especially for a great performance by a young Brad Dourif), but the way the story plays out ultimately left me feeling unfulfilled.

I can say without qualification that I would not watch the movie a second time.