Sometimes a movie just works

Rating: Null/10 (23 February 2018)

I've always had slight problems with this film. I've seen it every now and then throughout my years. I've heard how good it is. And I can see that for myself. It is a good film. But why?
Well... it did win the Big Five of Oscars. Best Film, Director, Screenplay and both Main Actors. Only the second film to have ever done that. And yeah, I guess there's something there. Everything in this film simply works. And it works very well together. Jack Nicholson as the chaotic McMurphy and Louise Fletcher as nurse Ratched, who controls the mental ward with an iron fist, are both phenomenal in their roles. Nicholson is of course Jack Nicholson, but Fletcher's role, especially right next to Nicholson's, also must be praised. You're constantly being kept wondering whether her efforts to force the patients into an iron tight, rigid order are because that's what she believes will help them or is it just because she truly doesn't care and simply wants everything to go exactly like she prefers.
It's also a really professional-looking film. Cinemacraft at its finest. Although, I have to admit that 60s mental hospital is not exactly the most exciting of locations, but then it's a character movie anyway. The score is also atmospheric and moody in just the right way. The opening shot alone instantly sets the pace.
I guess sometimes you just have to admit that you don't know something. I'm still not sure exactly why this film works. I just know that it does.