Row, row, row your boat...

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2013)

I haven't read the book, and judging by some reviews, that's for the better. I've watched this one before, but it was a long time ago. The big question seems to be whether or not McMurphy is 'crazy' or not. Well, he is and he isn't.... He is, for thinking he is going on a vacation in a mental institute. But he isn't, for taking on his co-patients as his true peers and the mental mafia (not to badmouth psychiatric aid, but in 'One Flew...' they don't come off quite well) as his enemy.
It's a deeply intense story, where many details really boggle the mind. For instance, why does nurse Wretched have such power over Billy? With one reference to his mother being her friend, she instigates his suicide. This should be unthinkable nowadays, as well as back then. This demeaning of patients, which in this particular institution is more rule than exception, can, with the 'wrong' patient in the room, create mayhem.
And there is more to be considered; about the behavior of McMurphy and the Chief, as they both are faking. But the problem with that is, no one in their right mind would fake anything just to get into a mental institution. It is another awkward case of that catch 22, where really there is no right answer to the question.
The film takes on even more issues when shock treatment and lobotomies come in, which makes this an important film, especially in those days - I'm not sure if it actually influenced anything for the better, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. The popularity of the book, the play and the film could hardly have gone unnoticed.
P.s. I just found out that the writer of the book, Ken Kesey, wanted Gene Hackman in the leading role. Personally I'd doubt very much if he would have pulled it off as greatly as Jack Nicholson did. The rest of the cast was a joy to behold as well, which really helps make this one a true classic.
In many ways a perfect film, but still I'd like to have learned more about certain patients (not in the least McMurphy), their problems and the ways the psychiatric staff dealt with them. 9 out of 10.