Over time the characters change.......

Rating: 9/10 (24 October 2010)

R. P. McMurphy chooses to wait his time in a mental institution rather than have to do his time in jail, in the film One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Jack Nicholson plays the character that would be more willingly live in the psychiatric ward than suffer his existence in the criminal justice system. Jack's superb acting capabilities shine in this film, creating a character personality that is realistic to the background of the psych ward. Over the course of the movie the audience has the opportunity to see the changes of these characters. It is these changes that help the audience determine if McMurphy's true ambition is to live out his criminal sentence in the psych ward or regain his freedom and independence. Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher, adds intensity to the film as the audience slowly learns of her domineering personality. This minor plot of the film increases the insanity and stupidity of the psychiatric ward environment. Nurse Ratched brings more conflict for Randle McMurphy and the other inhabitants of the building. Nurse Ratched attempts to suck the life out of McMurphy just as she has done to the other patients, it is obvious that she enjoys and needs to dominate the ward of patients The viewer must realize that there are just too many subplots to follow all with a detailed line of thought. Each ward patient brings their own story to the screen, it appears at times that these subplots overpower Randle's plight to regain his freedom from the criminal term and the psychological term. These subplots consistently appear to the viewer throughout the rhythm of the film. Intense lengthy close up angles allow the viewer to review every detail of each patients' facial movement, allowing the viewer to realize the true insane personality of each ward patient. Dramatic use of white on white colors throughout the film aid in creating the impression and feeling of a cold uncaring temperature that truly resembles the psych ward created by Nurse Ratched. These set colors keep the viewer involved within the insanity and stupidity of McMurphy's plight for freedom, keeping a monotone color portfolio supports the sterility of the mental hospital making the film realistic to the viewer. Like other films about mental illness, The Snake Pit or What about Bob?, the audience truly sees a change in the character personalities and their individual goals or ambitions over time in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. It is the evolution of the character changes that continues to draw the viewer into the storyline. Are the patients ever going to get organized to break away from Nurse Ratched's authoritarianism, will McMurphy ever get to watch the World Series, and will Nurse Ratched ever realize that she is mentally ill, perhaps as much as some of the patients of the ward?