Quartile rating: 8.5/10 · 2 ratings
A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a landmark of American cinema. The plot is a masterfully constructed battle of wills that works as both gripping drama and rich allegory about institutional oppression and individuality. The acting is among the finest ensemble work in film history — Nicholson's McMurphy is iconic, and Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched is one of cinema's great villains, with strong supporting turns from Brad Dourif, Danny DeVito, and others. The ending is genuinely devastating and cathartic, earning its place among cinema's most memorable conclusions. Novelty is high because the film has an utterly singular voice — its blend of dark comedy, tragedy, and social critique is unmistakable and has never quite been replicated. Cinematography is competent and effectively naturalistic but is the least exceptional element; the institutional visual palette serves the story without being especially distinguished.