Joker in the ward

Rating: 7/10 (1 March 2014)

I rewatched this film after going through some of Jack Nicholson's earlier performances in Five Easy Pieces and King of Marvin Gardens.
He won an Oscar for this film, it is here we get the 'Jack' mannerisms that crop up in later films especially as we see aspects of the 'Joker' as soon as he appears on screen.
It is almost 40 years since the film was made. I never realised the film is set in the early 1960s as it had a contemporary setting especially as we see 1970s cars in some of the exterior scenes.
The film also has what were at the time unknown actors that have become stars in their own right. Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Brad Dourif, Vincent Schiavelli. Even the producer Michael Douglas managed to become an Oscar winning actor!
Convict McMurphy (Nicholson) enters a mental hospital thinking it would be easier to do time there than an ordinary prison. He brings chaos in his wake that stirs the other patients.
We have had similar themed films done since then and even parodied on numerous occasions. So there is a lot of familiarity to the story even if you have never seen the movie before.
McMurphy's behaviour brings him into conflict with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher.) Nurse Ratched is a cold, icy character who lacks empathy. As McMurphy mentions she is not playing a straight game.
Although it could be said that it's McMurphy that has brought chaos with his wilful rule breaking. Her mask slips at the end when she humiliates Brad Dourif that brings tragedy.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is an example of the edgy, adult 1970s cinema. It dealt with mature themes. It is not an epic dealing with a grandiose story yet it still won the Grand Slam of Oscars with Best actor, actress, screenplay, director and film.