Based on the book by Ken Kesey, I will say I remember this being one of the few better adaptions of books-to-film I’ve seen. I need to read it again, it’s been quite awhile. I think I have two copies of it, just to have an extra on hand. Stellar story, and great cast and perfect capturings of the moments by Milos Forman here. I’m Not a big fan of the Oscars, especially the shitshow it’s become over the last few decades. But this was nominated for 9 of em for 1975, and won 5. Back when it still kinda meant something about quality. This earned it.
McMurphy (Nicholson) gets locked up into a mental institution after causing some issues on a Work Farm. It’s the early 60s. He’s not exactly a normal guy, kind of unclassifiable. And smart enough to know it’s gonna be better to be in a posh Institution versus working what amounts to a modern-era chain gang. Savy. But once inside, he starts to see what he’s up against besides a bunch of mentally unwell guys. They all have their tics and quirks, but damn. Institutionalization has an iron fist, specifically under the hand of Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). And it’s applied on multiple levels; pills, psychological, and of course, the head-zapperings. Brutal. But here, there’s also Chief. You’ll see.
Here we are 51 years later, and still struggling with how to treat mentally ill people, and people that just like to hang out with em. McMurphy’s diagnosis to get him thrown in the nuthouse of being Belligerent, Talking when Unauthorized, Resentful Attitude. Weeellll sshheeeeeit, that’s like 81.7% of everyone at this point. Odd metrics, subjective standards. Still doesn’t mean we don’t actually need mental institutions, which they pretty much shut down like most of them a little after this movie came out because of, well, this kinda shit. Because we do need Mental Institutions. Just not under these standards, or with these methods. Strange we haven’t been able to figure this one out yet, because we need to. Kinda soon, methinks. Because the insane seem to be running a lot of shit lately that they shouldn’t be. And we all pay for it in one way or another. Our “Modern” society deserves better.
