One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

 

Emotional masterpiece. Like: really, really good. But this isn't the sort of film you would want to watch in order to be entertained or feel better about yourself, because this one is such a gutpunch (even after all these years) that yours truly can only sanely watch this once a year. 

It is that darn gripping and heavy, which speaks to its timelessness and brilliance, of course.

Randall McMurphy (Nicholson) is a small time crook who was sentenced to prison for assault and a case of statutory rape. But because he thinks he can decrease his sentence and get out of work detail, he feigns mental issues, which is why he is transferred to an institution for observation. This place is run like clockwork by nurse Ratched (Fletcher), an iron woman who truly believes that she is doing the best for her patients, but who is so sure her way is the only way, it becomes ridiculously rigid and restrictive. McMurphy is the spanner in the works, as he doesn't really abide by the rules and his loose manner of doing this rubs Ratched the wrong way.

McMurphy quickly bonds with some of the patients and turns their boring routines upside down, which not only makes them come alive a bit more, but which also causes plenty of problems for all involved. Things slowly but surely head to a confrontation between McMurphy and Ratched and the entire system in which the patients are registered. Heck, McMurphy is amazed to discover most of them are actually volunteers in this programme, because he cannot understand why anyone would want to subject themselves to this willingly. But he will soon discover that it gets insanely hard to fight the system and win... 

This film is all about the actors and the work they do and every single one of them shines here. Nicholson is his loose cannon/charming self, but it would be a disservice not to mention others who stand out. Louise Fletcher completely nails it as the cold nurse Ratched who is a very real 'monster' in how she sees the world and how she goes about her business. She is not a villain in the clichéd sense because she is devoted to her job, but she has left most of her humanity at the door a long time ago. What a performance. 

You know who else stands out as brilliant? Brad Dourif as the young Billy Bibbit. Sure, nowadays, most people know Dourif either as the voice of Chucky or as Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings, but he is such a versatile actor and he proves it here for the first time. 

Those are just a few standouts, but truly everyone shines here. Even more so considering director Forman keeps things very real and 'dry' and a lot of the scenes are just the people interacting without them even knowing the cameras were on. It pulls you in and you get to know and like them, which is why the emotional punches hit so damn hard. 

This isn't a film that will make you happy, but it will leave a lasting impression. Try not to feel anything while watching this, a nigh impossible task. 

Must see? Heck, if that still has to be said, then there is no hope. Classic in every sense of the word.