One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Review: Rebellion in the Ward
9/10 — One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Pros
- Nicholson's powerhouse lead
- Fletcher's chilling Nurse Ratched
- Strong supporting cast
Cons
- Dated portrayal of mental health
Randle McMurphy, a petty criminal played by Jack Nicholson, fakes insanity to escape a prison work farm and ends up in a mental institution, where he clashes with the rigid Nurse Ratched. It was the second film to win all five major Oscars.
What works
Nicholson is electric, balancing charm and menace, while Louise Fletcher’s Ratched is a quietly terrifying authority figure. The supporting cast, including Danny DeVito and Brad Dourif, are memorable, and Milos Forman finds both comedy and heartbreak in the ward.
Where it falters
The film’s treatment of mental illness and of Ratched as a villain has dated, and the story leans on familiar rebel clichés.
Verdict
Funny, angry and devastating, anchored by a titanic Nicholson performance.
