One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

Rating:
Summary: Forman's Foremost
Review: Czech director Milos Forman has a fixation for America. Almost all his films, RAGTIME, MAN IN THE MOON, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLINT, focus on what he perceives as essential American qualities: its talent, its racism, its perversions, its freedoms, its inventiveness, and, in the case od ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, its strength of spirit. Jack Nicholson's McMurphy is a criminal, and Forman doesn't hide or sweeten this fact. It's his original sin, so to speak. But the world he is cast into is filled with darker sins: brutality, prejudice, ignorance, and inflexibility. McMurphy initially tries to serve just himself, but in his own way, he reaches out to the other inmates. Maybe not with the greatest of patience, he tries to inform the others that they are not crazy and that all is not lost. And he gives them some strengths that they didn't know they possessed

Phenomenal performances are all over the place: Nicholson will forever be inseparable from McMurphy, as Louise Fletcher will always be Nurse Ratched. But the supporting performances were equally stellar. Will Sampson as the sad-eyed hulk, Chief, was exceptional. But for my money, Brad Dourif's Billy Bibbit is the overlooked gem of a performance. He is the pathetic and forlorn stutterer who befriends McMurphy, and, perhaps for that reason, suffers the most. Dourif would turn in any equally powerful performance in Forman's later film, RAGTIME.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is an unforgettable film that no film lover's collection can be without. This set, complete with lots of give-me's (I especially enjoyed "The Making of..." portion), is a value at any price.

Rating:
Summary: A modern classic finally gets a proper release.
Review: If I had to pick any three DVDs to take with me to a desert island, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" would for sure top the list. It is an electrifying and compelling story of one man against the system, and unlike a lot of other 70's dramas, never seems dated.

Since most people interested have already seen the movie, it would be pointless for me to give a synopsis. But what cannot be over emphasized is the strong performances from both Jack Nicholson in the lead role as a petty crook commited to a mental institution, and Louise Fletcher as the cold and blunt nurse. Much of the movie centers around the duality between them, and it makes for some great dialogue. Nicely rounding out the cast is a young Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd, obviously in the springtime of their careers.

I held off from getting this movie on DVD because the earlier version was bare-bones and was a mediocre transfer. This newly released 2 DVD set is a fantastic buy, with a whole new video and sound transfer that makes you forget that 25 years have passed since it was made. This is by far the best print ever released. The extras also add good measure, such as the documentary (which is a shorter version of the one found on the laserdisc edition) and full-length commentary from the Director and Producers. While the extras aren't exactly overflowing in this edition, they are worth the price of admission.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" remains one of the most entertaining and important films ever made, and like other classics such as "Citizen Kane" and "The Godfather", will stand the test of time. It is funny, moving, and tough-provoking, which is a rareity in modern cinema. This new DVD edition is what movie buffs have been waiting for, and is so far the only thing coming close to a definative version.

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Rating:
Summary: a special edition for a very special movie...
Review: Before 1975 we had great violent epics like "The Godfather", "Mean Streets", and "Easy Rider". but later in 1975, director Milos Forman took a challenge on directing the famous novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". hiring top-notch actors, including the up and rising star Jack Nicolsin. With his amazing debut in Easy Rider, Milos Forman thought he would be the perfect person for this role. this incredible movie shocked the world. even better than the novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is easily one of the greatest films of all-time.

this movie has the stuff. memorable characters, amazing acting, hilarious jokes, shocking moments, and an ending to always be remembered till the day you die. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest easily has the most memorable ending to a film ever. enough talk of this incredible movie, as for the stuff on the special edition... its also great. with a whole extra disk of extras, deleted scenes, and a whole bunch more. I have tons of DVDs and this is easily one of the best purchases I've bought. No, not just because of the movie but the extra stuff on the DVD.

the Two-disk special edition of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a great update to a great movie. by all means, you must have this in your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Will Be Remembered Well
Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is unforgettable. Filled with great acting, a gripping storyline, and a terrific message, this is one movie that you will remember. It is nothing like the average, worthless flicks currently in theaters. It's about hope, overcoming difficult situations, and conformity.

Randall P. MacMurphy recently gets sent to spend time in a strict mental institution after commiting assualt, among other crimes. To see if there really is a problem with his mind, the nurses observe him for a period of days. But as soon as Mac arrives, things change at the quiet hospital. He befriends the other patients, and teaches them many valuable lessons -- like how to fish, or how to really set off Nurse Ratched -- probably the most evil of characters in movie history.

The emotional conclusion is not one of dissapointment, no matter how sad it gets. You'll see why this deserves such recognition as a great work of art.

Great peformances and overall talent really make One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest worth watching over and over. This has to be Jack Nicholson's best. Amazing writing and character development progress better deeper into the plot. You really care for the characters unlike anything else. I wish more films like this were made.

And don't forget about the extras. There's lots to fulfill your needs with details about this masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: One flew East . . .
Review: Why this movie isn't a better seller is beyond me. Forget about whether it is "the best mental institution movie" ever made, it's one of the best movies, period. If you're really interested in the film, I highly suggest you read Kensey's book which has much more detail than the film. Sill, with Nicholson's acting (not to mention Nurse Ratched and everyone else, including Danny DeVito), you can't go wrong. I first saw this film the year it came out, and I was in high school. It blew me away then, and now, after all these years, it still blows me away. Truly one of the best ever made.

Rating:
Summary: A film that doesn't get old
Review: The performances by the actors and actresses in this movie are really good. The actors actually stayed inside an institute that was still in use at the time, so they spent time with actual patients. The story behind this film is interesting, and the meaning behind it isn't hard to see.

The second disc with special features ACTUALLY HAS special features! There are so many dvd sets that really don't offer anything remotely interesting with the movie. Well, this dvd is certainly an exception. The Making Of is very interesting with interviews with Milos Forman, Michael Douglas, and many of the actors and actresses involved with the movie. It was a bit disappointing that they never talk to Jack Nicholson, but regardless of that.. the Making Of is really an interesting documentary. Paying a little extra to get this extra disc is definitely worth it.

Rating:
Summary: In an insane world only the sane are mad !
Review: This lyric jag was a crude and sinister metaphor about Vietnam Hell and all the unimaginable consequences The book was published in 1962 and reveals the distorted state of things .in those years .
A convict -I mean an outsider- is committed to a mental institution for examination. And from that dark place he will find his bliss when he becomes a leader and stimulates his companions to develop an awakening spirit of self worth and rebelliousness against the rules which configure the Status Quo in the hospital . The image can not be more descriptive .
Curiously? an European film maker specifically Czech who really understood what the slender and the cruelness invasion meant for the free and untamed western spirit derived from his emotional memories in 1968 : Milos Foreman who played hard and without making too much concessions practiced and incisive surgeon to the social body conceived such as micro cosmos in itself through the pretext of using a mental institution.
This attitude will represent for him the beginning of his end when Louise Fletcher the implacable nurse guess his game . She will detect he is normal but ... she has the power to avoid he abandons this sinister jail . And now the struggling tension will raise and turn in a real catastrophe for every insane member.
Finally he will suffer a lobotomy and the circle of terror will close .
Masterly performances of Nicholson and Fletcher who won the respective Academy Awards as best actor and actress respectively . Foreman won the prize as best Director and so the film did it .
Since It happened one night you there was no other previous film who made this glorious feat.
Watch this superb masterpiece of the American Cinema but do not ever forget Shock Corridor - see my review - and consider the impressive points in common . Twelve years ago was the interval between Shock and One flew .



Rating:
Summary: Jack Nicholson At His Very Best
Review: Jack Nicholson just lights up the screen. He won best actor of the year 1975 for his role. In addition, the movie won best picture of the year. Nicholson is superb. He is so vibrant and charismatic in the role of McMurphy that one just can not even imagine another actor playing the part.

Ken Kesey never so the movie, but you should definitely see the movie. The movie is based on Kesey's book but very different than the book. If it were my movie than McMurphy and the Chief would have escaped together. On the fishing trip not only Nicholson but all of the actors light up the screen.



Rating:
Summary: Martini
Review: I just saw the movie a few weeks ago for the 3rd time, and among other funny scenes, I found myself laughing once again at the scene when Jack Nicholson's/Mack's girlfriend 'Candi' asks the guys: "So are you all crazy?", and Danny Devito's character Martini answers simply: "Yes." He is so adorable! Yet, can someone please tell me what was wrong with him? I don't think he had a mental illness; he was just mentally challenged, right? I always thought state hospitals were for the mentally ill (i.e. disorders such as schizophrenia/bipolar disorder) only. If someone has read the book and knows more about Martini's condition, let me know!

Rating:
Summary: Nicholson's Most Epic Performance - A True Masterpiece
Review: I just watched this film for the first time on DVD, and it is even more awe inspiring than I remembered. What an all star cast ! Brad Dourif (aka Grima Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings) shines as Billy Bibbett, the sweet but stuttering young inmate, along with early appearances by Christopher Lloyd and Danny Devito.

But make no mistake - this is Jack's film all the way. You can absolutely feel his experience in the asylum, along with the growing tension that escalates into the final confrontation and devastating climax. This movie earned the Oscar for best picture 1975, and Oscars for Nicholson and Louise Fletcher as well. it actually deserves way more than the 5 stars given here !