Memorable, horrifying, powerful.

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2008)

It's difficult to imagine many films aging as well as 1975's 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. Though practices have changed and opinions differ drastically than they did when the original 1962 novel was released, this moving and powerful picture remains every bit as good as I'm sure it was more than thirty years ago. It touches brilliance and touches it often, and it's difficult to describe it as anything other than a masterpiece.
A beautiful, tragic, maddening masterpiece. A culturally profound and historically significant picture that asks what it truly means to be sane, or insane for that matter. And though it at times can be very funny and genuinely life-affirming, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is often a difficult film to watch as its many characterizations are all strikingly human. Real people dealing with real problems, all built around a sharp and intelligent observation of how we deal with mental illness.
Jack Nicholson has delivered some mighty fine performances during his rich career, and he's sure to deliver some more. But it's his turn here as McMurphy that will surely go down as one of his best and most accomplished pieces of work. It is, like the film, flawless. As he not-so-eloquently (but the ends justify the means, right?) battles both himself and his fellow patients to fight oppression and free the individual from within, an unforgettable clash with Nurse Ratched crackles with tension, both real and psychological. Louise Fletcher turns in an absolutely mesmerizing performance here, bringing to life a truly disturbing character that's both upsetting and very thought-provoking.
'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' isn't a film made for the criminally insane, but for you and me. It's an electric story that remains a relevant and relatable piece of artwork. A comedy one minute and a heartbreaking tearjerker the next, few films have achieved a level of excellence as director Milos Forman has here. A remarkable achievement, and an ending that's both empowering and disheartening that will leave a lasting impression on any who have the extreme fortune of experiencing 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', one of the greatest films ever made.
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