One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest The movie I chose from the list to watch and review was One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It was released under United Artists in November of 1975. The film was directed by Miloš Forman and stars Jack Nicholson as the protagonist, and Louise Fletcher as the antagonist. The screenplay was written by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, who based it off the book of the same name written by Ken Kesey. Other notable members of the cast include Danny DeVito, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif, and Christopher Lloyd. The reason I chose to watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is because of the amount of acclaim the film received. It is one of three films to have ever won all five of the “big five” Oscar categories (best picture, …show more content…
The protagonist, Randle McMurphy, referred to as "Mac," can be considered an anti-hero. When placed in a mental institution center, he disagrees with the practices upheld by Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher. The other patients are afraid of Nurse Ratched, and her abuse of authority. Mac notices this and takes advantage, become a leader of new patient rebellion. Although the audience is most likely aware that the patients are better off in the institution than otherwise, they cannot help but root for the rebellion, because they are aware of the negative side of how the patients are treated. I think the main thematic innovation from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest that relates to the New Hollywood era is the rise of the anti-hero against the establishment. In a scene of the film, Mac wants to watch the World Series. Nurse Ratched tells him he cannot unless he gets a majority vote from the patients. He attempts to get others to vote along with him, to no avail. Nurse Ratched adjourns the meeting, and a moment later the Chief decides to vote. Mac asks Nurse Ratched to turn the television on, and she tells him the meeting was adjourned and therefore the vote was