Not Kesey, But Still Well-Crafted

Rating: 9/10 (27 November 2000)

Milos Forman's film may not be entirely true to Ken Kesey's novel, but it is still, in its own right, an inspiring, well-crafted, emotional and intelligent telling of the choice to conform or rebel.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest stars Jack Nicholson as Randal McMurphy, a prisoner who decides he'd have a better time serving out his sentence in a mental ward, but ultimately ends up enlivening the patients there and showing them the beauty of life.
Jack Nicholson's performance as McMurphy is deservedly Oscar-winning, inspiring, and is surely one of the best of his career. As the naive Billy Bibbit, Brad Douriff is impressive and touching in his film debut. Louise Fletcher does well as Nurse Ratched, even though she doesn't really compare to the tough-as-nails Big Nurse as written of by Kesey. She is more than up to the performance, however, and is effective as the ice-cold Ratched.
A truly inspiration film with fantastic performances, terrific scenes, and a double-edged, satisfying ending.
9 out of 10