One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Laura’s Rating: 5/5 Stars

★★★★★

Earning a spot in the top third of  AFI’s top 100 movie list, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is also one of only 3 films ever to win all 5 major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Actor in a Lead Role, Actress in a Lead Role, Director, and Screenplay).

The Analysis:

In order for me to rate something 5 stars, there has to be essentially nothing wrong with it. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has it all: a killer cast, a plot with depth, humor, scenes that evoke anger and sadness, scenes that make you smile, and a tasteful handling of serious issues. Jack Nicholson is the most perfect actor for the role of McMurphy, a repeat criminal who causes enough trouble for him to be sent to a mental institution for evaluation. While he seems to be mentally sound, he has the perfect look and personality of someone who could be completely sane or could be slipping into madness. Louise Fletcher plays the hard and mean Nurse Ratched with an unwavering harshness that makes you detest her.

This movie is filled with a surprising amount of insight and understanding about mental health despite being released in 1975, not exactly the height of our knowledge regarding mental illness. There are quite a few ways that the flaws of old mental institutions are highlighted. After being in the facility for less than a day, McMurphy is already being given (unidentified) medication, despite not having been evaluated at all. Nurse Ratched conducts “therapy” sessions where she seems to belittle the patients more than encourage and challenge them in a way that could lead to growth. The orderlies at the facility have essentially given up on many of the nonverbal patients and let them wander aimlessly.

In contrast, despite having no medical background, McMurphy seems to make breakthroughs and progress with the patients simply by treating them with patience and compassion. McMurphy certainly has his flaws and may use unconventional methods, but he does more for the patients than any of the staff. He plays cards with the men and treats them as normal people, rather than with any special treatment. He is relentless in his attempts to get “Chief” to play basketball, despite the orderlies telling McMurphy that he is a lost cause and does not understand. When Jack Nicholson takes all the prisoners out on an unauthorized fishing trip, he has confidence in their abilities to figure out sailing and is patient in teaching them each step of the process. The men are glowing with excitement and even catch a few huge fish during their adventure! It would be hard to argue that the field trip was not one of the best days of their lives, simply because of the excitement and break from routine that also allowed them to explore their independence.

It turns out that many of the patients at the facility are there on their own accord, a fact that McMurphy finds unbelievable. He challenges them to walk out and go live their lives to the fullest. While some of them may need treatment, it does not appear that the goal of the staff is to truly rehabilitate them, but rather to subdue and control them. Unfortunately, McMurphy’s disruption of the status quo is the catalyst for a few tragic events towards the end of the film. The movie has a somber ending but it is also heartwarming and powerful. Everyone should watch this movie!