One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 8/10
1976 Oscar:
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Nicholson)
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Louise Fletcher)
Best Director (Milos Forman)
Best Picture
Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material
1976 Golden Globes:
Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Male (Brad Dourif)
Best Director - Motion Picture (Milos Forman)
Best Motion Picture - Drama
Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama (Jack Nicholson)
Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Louise Fletcher)
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (Lawrence Hauben & Bo Goldman)
American Film Institute Top 100 Films of All Time : No. 20
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ became the first film in 41 years to sweep the major categories of best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay. Recognized as one of the best films ever made, Milos Forman’s powerful tale is as much a social commentary as it is a humanizing tale of a group of inmates. Jack Nicholson is powerfully mesmerizing as the rebellious, sane inmate but it is really Louise Fletcher’s performance as Nurse Ratchett that truly steals the show. As an allegorical tale of how individualism is beaten into submission into conformity, the film shines and is deftly directed by Forman.
However, i felt that what detracted from this was that the film was too long and some of the scenes were jarring and a tad too manipulative. The most egregious of these was the entire boating trip which i felt was totally unnecessary. But despite these missteps, it is still worthy of all the awards and accolades it has garnered and has some truly magical scenes, the best of which has to be how Nicholson narrates the imaginary baseball match just to spite the nurse.
“Along with It Happened One Night and The Silence of the Lambs, these are the only three films to win all four major Oscars (actor, actress, director, picture). It’s still the only film to deserve it.”- Null
“Philosophically sound, motivational, inspirational, Czech director Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of a small number of Best Picture winners to deserve the statuette.”- Chambers
