One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

            Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest is probably one of the most interesting films that I have ever seen. Part of what made this movie so interesting is that the whole thing is based in a mental institution. Jack Nicholson acts the main character that enters the mental institution in the beginning of the movie. Nicholson plays the roll of McMurphy, who actually appears to be the most normal one there. Soon after arriving at the institution McMurphy realizes that all the other patients are terrified of Nurse Ratched. McMurphy is bound to stop it.

            The whole movie is based in a mental institution where the walls are white and gloomy. This gives the movie more of a sad and depressing feel to it. What I think sets the mood more than anything though is the way the people act. When McMurphy first arrives, all of the patients have a sad and depressing attitude. However as the movie goes on McMurphy changes the way they act by acting up himself. He goes against Nurse Ratched and wants to change the way the ward works. He does this numerous times throughout the movie causing the other patients at first to get confused but eventually go with him. For example McMurphy wants to watch the world series game, so he asks Nurse Ratched if they can change around the schedule so that him and the other patients that want to can watch the game. Nurse Ratched says makes it up to a vote. At first no one else will raise their hand because they are to scared, but as McMurphy goes on he convinces the other patients that its okay to vote and not do everything the way Nurse Ratched wants it. When everyone in the discussion group votes that they want to watch the game McMurphy thinks that he has it won. But Nurse Ratched says that it’s not a majority because the other patients (not in the discussion group) didn’t raise their hands. But the other patients have mental problems where they cant really understand what they would be voting for or that they would be voting at all.  This is a part where I think there was a major mood swing. As a viewer you think they have it won which is a relief, and brings the mood up. But then Nurse Ratched takes that feeling right back from you.

            As well as watch the movie I also read the book, which was written by Ken Kesey. In my opinion the book had one significant difference, which is Nurse Ratched. Nurse Ratched in the book is made out to be some demon but in the movie I think they portray her as more of a kind of friendly person that has control over the institution. That really surprised me just because in the book they made her seem so evil.  Overall though I think that they made the movie very well based off the book. The production designer did a great job designing each set to look just as I had imagined it would in the book.