"If he's crazy, what does that make you?"

Rating: 10/10 (14 November 2011)

Upon arrival at a mental institution, a brash rebel rallies the patients together to take on the oppressive Nurse Ratched, a woman more a dictator than a nurse.
One day, I told myself I would broaden by range of movies. I usually stick to the old action/thriller esque, but never have I gotten into the classics. Seeing as this was on Netflix, I strangely became interested. First off: JACK NICHOLSON! He's one of (if not, the best) the best actors working today. Second off: beforehand, I knew about broadening by range; and this was a drama-classic destined to be loved. So I had the highest of expectations and thank God I knew nothing of the film beforehand. And when the title appeared and when the film rolled on, I was set back into the darkest of all places. Poetic brilliance to the simple stuff, the comedic (but not purposely) scenes to the dark ones. I watched with an open mind and completely fell in love. The characters are so easy to ease up on, the sick way the movie presents itself, the sheer brilliance in all of the dialogue, music, writing. And combined, all of these elements made One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest one of my favorite films. Beforehand, as said before, I had expectations but never before these kind of expectations. Everything was poetic and beautiful. When Murphy took the gang out to fish or when the characters had random outbursts, they all had me strangely loving and laughing. I know this film isn't a comedy, but the tremendously real acting had me feeling for the characters. Jack's characters was hopeful but awfully dark. He had his moments of true warmheartedness but had his share of evil; hence the title. I never read the book, nor do I want to. Books don't strike my interest but somehow, someway this movie wants me to see what they had done to bring the book to life. The acting was pure genius, and must I note Jack's (once again.) Then we have the last 15 minutes. Spoiler beware... This was probably one of the darkest endings in movie history, but it is so profound and dark that it makes it brilliant. You have a suicide, and Jack's attempt to choke one of the nurses to death. This makes him end up having the effects of lobotomy and his friend kills him and jumps out the window. Mercy killing... This ending had me in tears, it had me betrayed, it was so simplistic but so evil. But so right. I found this movie to be one of the best movies ever. It rightfully deserves it's 8.8 or even higher. It rightfully deserves everything it has been receiving, it even deserves a bow for it's poetic trance. I recommend this movie on all levels. I say don't read up on it, I say don't hear nothing of it; sit down and watch with the openest mind. You surely will be disturbed in the most gentle way. 10/10.