Simply my favorite movie of all time

Rating: 10/10 (17 May 2000)

This is my favorite movie of all time. I'm not saying it is the greatest ever made- there are many more titles that could easily vie for that title. This movie isn't really a film in the sense that there isn't a particularly memorable piece of camera work or composition. However, director Forman knows what to do: he gets out of the way and lets his actors tell the captivating story of the individual courageously fighting for identity against "the machine".
Cuckoo's Nest is an actor's movie. The ensemble work here by Nicholson, Fletcher, Lloyd, Redfield, Lasker,Sampson, Devito and the rest is amoung the finest ever captured. I can not find a false note in any of the performances. These actors fully inhabit the skins of these characters and therefore, create three dimensional people.
The script is air tight as it oscillates between comedy and tragedy often not only in the same scene but in the same take. I know Kesey has disowned this film and I don't blame him considering the experience he had, however the film compliments his novel nicely. Many of my favorite lines in film history are in this movie. "Least I tried, G*******t, least I did that!" is a motto that has guided my life.
When viewed with its near twin Cool Hand Luke (my third favorite film of all time), one can see the possibly dated, but no less intriguing subtext of the criminal/prisoner as savior. Many souls are saved as a direct result of McMurphy's (and Luke's) ultimate sacrifice.
The film is entertaining, enlightening and reflective without the ever so slightest hint of pretension.
With each viewing (I've seen the film probably 30+ times) it appears as fresh and beautiful as the first. A definate 10 out of 10.