Well-deserved Oscar film for 1975

Rating: 10/10 (26 July 2010)

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is truly one of Jack Nicholson's films yet to date. Nicholson gives a truly award-winning performance as convict R.P. McMurphy who fakes insanity to get out of a prison work program. At the start of the film, he is sent to the mental institute in Oregon. He starts to get to know some of the residents on the ward, and the staff including a no-nonsense nurse well played by Louise Fletcher who won an award for best actress. Brad Dourif gave an excellent performance as Billy Bibbit and Will Sampson was as equally impressive as the tall Native American resident, Chief. Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito should also be mentioned for their acting contributions for their respective roles as Taber and Martini, and this was before they would gain fame a couple of years later in the hit TV show, "Taxi". And of course, Scatman Crothers' performance as Turkel, the night orderly is definitely not to be missed.
McMurphy's character and attitude slowly begin to change in the institute when he realizes that most of the residents on the ward are there voluntarily. His breaking point is when he's about to escape from the hospital, he stays to let Billy have a night of passion with the former's floozy girlfriend, Candy, well played by Marya Smalls. And when he has his last chance at freedom, he blows it by running to Billy's side towards the end. The climatic scene at the end with Chief lifting up the sink off its foundation and ramming it thru the hospital window is truly inspiring.