One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1975
*****
Director: Milos Forman
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif, Sydney Lassick, Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito, Scatman Crothers, Dean R. Brooks
In 1963, a nonconformist convict, Randle McMurphy, is transferred to a mental institution to assess whether he is mentally ill. His defiance inspires fellow patients to assert themselves, but puts him on a collision course with the strict and controlling Nurse Ratched. This captivating, thought-provoking, and supremely entertaining comedy-drama, based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel, is a classic for a reason. Miloš Forman, who defected from Communist Czechoslovakia, uses the story to explore the clash between individual freedom and authoritarian rule. This is one of three films to win all five major Academy Awards: best film, director, actor, actress, and screenplay.
