And the Best Picture goes to....

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, directed by Milos Forman, is an adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel, and tells an engaging story with themes of individuality, power, and rebellion. The film is notable not only for its critical acclaim but also for its status as one of three films to win the “Big Five” Academy Awards—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Jack Nicholson portrays the bold Randle P. McMurphy, a charming yet rebellious man who finds himself in a mental institution in order to avoid prison time.  While there he takes on the oppressive Head Nurse Mildred Ratched, played brilliantly by Louise Fletcher. What starts off as a seemingly light-hearted attempt to break the monotony of institutional life soon evolves into a power struggle against dehumanization and oppression.

So many of Jack Nicholson’s performances come off in a similar way—edgy, with maniacal eyes and laugh—yet he always manages to make each of them respectively unique, i.e., “Batman”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, and “The Shining”.   That is the case here.  McMurphy is mischievous and impulsive as he fights authority and eventually faces the horrors of electroshock therapy and a lobotomy for his actions.  

Louise Fletcher is Nurse Ratched, the cold and heartless antagonist.  Is she just doing her job, or is there a hidden pleasure that is determined to break the spirit of the male patients in her care in order to control them? There is a cold, chilling nature to Fletcher’s performance that actually led to the term “Nurse Ratched” being used often as a metaphor for dehumanization in pop culture.

The supporting cast adds many memorable performances from actors like Brad Dourif as Billy Bibbit and Danny DeVito as Martini.  These supporting characters are central to the film’s narrative as they are the ones that McMurphy plays ringleader to, as he connects with and forms friendships with them while convincing them to team up against authority.

In the end, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” tells a story of freedom and rebellion while highlighting the harsh realities of the mental health system during that era. By incorporating humor to balance the portrayal of human suffering, Forman crafted a memorable film that resonates with audiences.