rebellion as individualism

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2011)

This movie was based on the 1960s misconception that conformity is at best weakness and at worst insanity and rebellion is true freedom. Problem is you can't rebel against the devil. At least ten percent of an entire generation destroyed themselves with drugs sex and rock and roll as alternative to being straight (a hypocrite) a condition many of that generation considered the worse form of evil. Truth is the entire 60's generation was exploited by sleazy people who knew how to market it and had no altruistic motivations at all.
As for authority - it often wants you to rebel so they can put you in jail or mental institutions. There would be no police without criminals.
All the Jack Nicholson character had to do was play along a few weeks and he would have been let out. He couldn't stop his behavior thus wasn't free. Although he was a good influence for the other inmates he got himself killed. If you rebel the system has you where they want you.