One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Dramatic, personal and perfectly cast, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is perhaps one of the defining moments of two great actors' careers, elevated by a great supporting cast and sharp narrative.

The Good

Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher. I've never seen dramatic interplay like this on film before. They best even Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs. Yeah, they're that good. The film would be good without its astounding leads, but with them, it's superb.

The supporting cast are similarly fantastic. Danny DeVito (yes, Danny DeVito) is a standout amongs them all. Although that should not diminish the achievements of the others.

None of this would have been possible without the story. A story which is certainly unique, something not seen before or since. I love he simple setting and the fleshing out of the narrative of even the minor characters, particularly during Nurse Ratched's meetings.

Nicholson is deliriously funny in parts too. Although the humour is dark, it's replaced with drama towards the uplifting, albeit sad, ending. To understand what I mean, you have to see it. Believe me.

The Bad

Nurse Ratched's a bitch.

To Conclude

It's funny, it's moving, it's dramatic. A cinematic masterpiece, famous for the iconic performances of Louise Fletcher and Jack Nicholson, but perhaps most notable for being something unique.