Set in a mental hospital, and featuring what would be now called an all-star cast (though at the time, a lot of the performers were unknown or were in their debut film roles), this film gives a real, raw look at what went on behind closed doors, and in some cases I am sure, still goes on today in any remaining institutions or the less savoury psychiatric wards.
Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is brought into the hospital at the beginning of the film, having been in prison. He is there to be assessed for mental problems, to determine where he is to serve the remainder of his incarceration. While there, he meets a varied group of other patients on the ward, and finds himself under the iron-fisted rule of Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). His arrival causes havoc on the ward, as he refuses to fit in and abide by their rules, constantly fighting against the system that has put him there.
I won't go into a lot of detail listing major plot points of the film, but I will say a few things.
Firstly, the casting of this film is truly inspired. Nicholson and Fletcher of course both shine in their roles, and have truly earned their aforementioned respective Academy Awards for their hard work. But it is in the supporting cast - the other patients on the ward - that this film stands out. Those who have seen enough other films will recognise the faces of Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif, all of whom are spectacular in their various personalities and characters.
Another stand-out performance of this film is that of Will Sampson, who plays a Native American known only as 'Chief'. His large physical presence hides a tender-hearted character full of secrets. Those who have read the book will have advance warning of a major plot revelation we do not discover until quite late in the film, but Sampson's performance is nonetheless superb.
The entire cast take their performances very seriously, and do not at any point descend into caricature. There are moments that are funny, there are moments that are touching and serious, and there are moments where the true cruelty of the hospital staff will shock you. If the close-up shot of Nicholson's face as he undergoes electric-shock therapy does not bring tears to your eyes, then I regret to inform you that you have no heart.
That being said, those portraying the hospital staff also portray their characters in a way that does not paint them as one- or two-dimensional cutouts. Fletcher in particular is incredible as Nurse Ratched, playing the role in such a subtle, understated way as to make her actions all the more chilling.
The ensemble nature of the cast means that no one actor stands out more than the others. In fact, even the way the film is shot, with so many inserted close-ups of other patients (as in, not the person who is speaking at the time) reveals their dedication to their own roles at all times. They do not break character even for the briefest moment, which must have been a challenge, but one they succeeded at entirely.
There is not much more I can say about this film at this point, other than that it is well worth watching. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you appreciate everything about life. It is a truly beautiful piece of art, and as mentioned above, earned every single one of its five Academy Awards.
8 out of 10.
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