A little cracker (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (DVD))

Name: freediveheaven

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Product:	One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (DVD)
Date:	26/03/05 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very funny

Disadvantages: not everyone taste

"Isn't that the bloke from ER" were uttered some 30 minutes into this film by my girlfriend at the moment (soon to be ex girlfriend, looks and sexual ability do not a lasting relationship make). The fact that George had been on screen the entire time did not seem to matter and I realised the relationship was doomed so we went our separate ways, mine to write a review on Dooyoo and she to a starring role on a local department store make up counter.

I first came into contact with this film before the days when alcohol and a teenage bride drained the creative talent of Chris Evans. At the time he had a rather entertaining radio show and one day as I was crawling along the motorways that circle the second city a record was played from the latest George Clooney film and amongst the assorted sycophants on his show there was much conjecture as to whether it was in fact the voice of Mr Clooney as on film it appeared to be him. Sadly a week later it was discovered that the voice was actually that of Dan Tyminski. At the time I loved the song, I am a man of constant sorrow, and it was this that inspired me to see the film.

I have always liked Coen Brothers films and this one is very much my all time favourite having watched it a number of times now I never get tired of it. Coen Brothers films are not to everyone’s taste and there have been a couple of ones that I have not enjoyed, The Big Lebowski was very disappointing, but on the whole they have a style that is innovative and entertaining with some excellent character portrayals.

The Story

The inspiration for this film comes from Homers “The Odyssey”, having not had a classical education what I know about Greek Mythology comes from the wide screen (and hence very floored) and a few short stories you hear at school, however even with this limited knowledge I was still able to pick out some of the film characters mythological cousins.

Set in Mississippi Clooney stars as Everett Ulysses McGill a petty thief with the gift of the gab he finds himself breaking rocks on a chain gang following his conviction for practicing law with a forged licence. He manages to persuade those chained to him the rather dim Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and Pete (John Turturro) to flee with him and begin a long journey back to his hometown of Ithaca. The lure is the promise to share the $1.2 million that he has hidden away on his land, which is shortly due to be flooded following the completion of a new dam.

Still chained together the three begin their journey fleeing from the vindictive forces of the law led by Cooley (Daniel Von Bargen) who seems determined to bring them back dead or alive. Along the way they encounter a number of characters including a blind railwayman who predicts the future. They also meet a black musician Tommy Johnson played by Chris Thomas King and together the three of them record a song under the name the Soggy Bottom Boys (how they get this name is shown in the film) in order to get $25 from the blind radio station manager. The song goes on to be a huge hit unbeknown to the four band members as they cross paths with Governor Pappy O’Daniel played by the excellent Chares Durning.

Some of the characters from The Odyssey that I was able to spot included the three sirens who appear in the film as three women washing their clothes and lure the boys with their singing and an excellent performance from Coens stalwart John Goodman as Big Dan Teague a one eyed bible salesman as the Cyclops.

The Performances

Clooney’s performance earned him a Golden Globe and certainly he showed that he is more than just a babe magnet in a doctors white coat. He delivers a superb performance especially in the delivery of the comic lines and waxes lyrical as Everett offering advice to one and all. He plays the smooth talking Everett to perfection and is constantly obsessed with his hair searching far and wide for his preferred brand of hair cream, Dapper Dan, eschewing the offer of some Fop with a well delivered line.

What really makes this film is the depth of characters many of whom are over the top and exuberant which works very well with the understated performances from Everett two sidekicks Delmar and Pete who play the parts of backward hicks with a touching sincerity and are totally convincing in the roles.

Goodman dominates the screen in those scenes in which he appears with his larger than life character and there are some very funny interchanges between Clooney and his ex wife played by Holly Hunter who has told his daughters that Daddy got run over by a train.

Also watch out for Durning as the Governor who is fighting a losing re-election battle surrounded by a group of useless “yes” men and his idiot nephew.

The Soundtrack

It is not often that I bother to mention the soundtrack in a movie review but this one does stand out and it is the only film soundtrack that I actually own. It features a mixture of gospel, blues and bluegrass music from original artists including some well known little ditties such as You are my Sunshine and Keep on the Sunny Side. It provides a perfect backdrop to the film as well as some great visual moments when the Soggy Bottom Boys perform on stage.

Conclusion

I love this film and have watched it at least half a dozen times, it is shot with a grainy quality that gets across the sense of poverty that existed in rural Mississippi during the depression and the acting is superb.

There are some very funny moments and as with most Coen movies some quite surreal parts to it, all set against a great soundtrack with some very catchy songs. It will not be to everybody’s taste Coen movies never are but it is worth investing the 103-minute running time.

Rather confusingly this movie carries two ratings a 12 from the BBFC and a 15 from the Film Censors Office, I'm sure somene will tell me why in the comments section, certainly I could see nothing wrong and have let my 11 year old watch it and he enjoyed it.

You can currently pick this up on DVD new for £6.97 at Amazon which is a great price.

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