A Timeless Masterpiece? (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (DVD))

Member Name: lauraaah

Product:	One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (DVD)
Date:	18/05/04 (430 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent Acting, Gripping storyline

Disadvantages: Old film - not the best in picture quality

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was based upon the acclaimed bestseller by Ken Kesey. Sweeping all five major 1975 Academy Awards: Best Picture (produced by Saul Zaentz & Michael Douglas), Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Fletcher), Director (Milos Forman) and Adapted Screenplay (Lawrence Hauben & Bo Goldman) it easily attracted much attention.

The film has a suberb cast, including Jack Nicoholson, Louis Fletcher, Danny DeVito, Brad Dourif, & the Back To The Future star, Christopher Lloyd, in his film debut.

The DVD is rated 18, and approximately 128 mins. Languages include English, French & Italian, and there is a large choice of subtitles, including English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Romanian & Bulgarian.

THE PLOT

When petty crook Randle P. McMurphy (Nicholson) arrives at the state mental hospital, much disorder and chaos starts to affect the carefully planned out routine for the patients. Opposing him is the very cold Nurse Ratched (Fletcher), who never raises her voice, yet her authority is not missed. From taking the patients on unauthorised days out, bringing girls into the ward for the guys, to having parties after the staff have gone home, Nicholson certainly does jolt the routine.

You instantly find a place in your heart for Nicholson, he makes you want to laugh & cry, and the further the film goes on, the more you warm to him. He strikes up friendships with many patients on the ward, and frustrates a great deal of others.

Along with Nicholson, the rest of the cast are also terrific. It sometimes m
akes you wonder if they really are acting, or they are indeed patients at a state mental hospital. It should not be automatically assumed that Nicolson plays the same kind of lunatic as he does in say, The Shining. This is not the case. It is not altogether clear whether or not Randall P. McMurphy is faking his illness, but it is assumed that he is, in order to escape the prison lifestyle he was otherwise destined to. He soon becomes very close to another patient faking it on the ward, the Chief. This is the friendship that will move you the most, so be sure to have your tissues at the ready!

The storyline changes from being intense and almost disturbing whilst also being funny, to a very heartbreaking tale of Randall P. McMurphy. It has been quoted for being "Funny, shocking, powerful. A film of almost elemental force." And indeed it is.

The special features of this DVD includes feature length commentary by director Milos Forman, the making of the film, additional scenes, theatrical trailer, new digital trasfer from restored elements, & Dolby Digital 5.1 remastered soundtrack.

If you haven't yet seen this movie, you're missing out. I thoroughly recommend you see it.

Check out the webstite at www.warnerbros.co.uk

Soundtrack available on Fantasy Records.

Retails at around £19.99 in HMV

Summary: