Great take on the subtext here that clearly runs just beneath the surface...I've never been able to articulate that anywhere near as well. Another film I find hard to watch because of all the emotions it stirs up in my anti authoritarian bones!
Movie Birthdays yeah same here man. In my previous comment I said the subtext you highlight ‘clearly runs just beneath the surface’ but what I meant is that it is only so clear after watching your excellent analysis. I always had a vague sense of the anti authoritarian elements but you’re so right to go into that deeper. If anyone represented the ideals of freedom, individuality and the American dream its old Jack!
You brought up a great point that I never realized before that Milos Foreman characters are outsiders. I forgot about. "Hair", haven't seen it in decades.👍👍
Your powerful review really choked me up. I used to have the poster of Cuckoos nest on my wall when I was a teenager. The iconic image of Jack straining every sinew in his body trying to move the sink represented the power of giving it your all in the face of an impossible task. At least I tried is one of my favourite lines. Your review brought those teenage emotions to the surface again. The erosion of masculinity in our society is a worrying trend that needs to be rebelled against with McMurphy maniacal zeal. Thanks for your brilliant analysis. It lit up and paid off in silver dollars!
Wow. Beautiful and credible analysis. certainly a unique and genuine reaction while still being genuinely aware of important themes and plot/ writing elements at work. I love how you speak with such a genuine voice in your videos yet still manage to truly share insightful and original observations of the film making and performances. Like I've said before, so glad you're not on auto pilot, and truly speaking/ sharing with us in your own voice. Great editing as well, that is key. it's hand in glove.
Thanks again, this was a really great movie to revisit. The film is still so emotionally powerful that I guess that came across in the video. It’s hard not be be moved by the great performances and eternally relevant story.
I teared up at this review. You really understood it. I never got the Communist themes, not knowing much about the book or Author. But as someone who has been involantariedly (sic) hospitalised for mental illness, I really love this. (For the record, I am an Austistic Schizophrenic. So to be honest, at times I do belong in there). The thing is, most places I have been in are pretty good. But it really does feel like a medium security prison at times. And whether or not you do need to be in there, you never really do want to stay there. But I have been in one hospital, where I currently live, where there was a Male Nurse Rachett. Now, the thing is, before I moved up here, I didn't know that there had been some deaths in the ward. Apparently an investigation was done , because the security guards and nurses were laughing over his body. Not all patients are "saints". Some can be out and out "bad". It's very rare though. But this one Nurse, at this hospital, hated my guts. HE hated that I was smart, talking about science to a kid in there. He hated that in my own way, I would stand up to the more "abusive" staff. Unlike Jack's character however, I had the lucky benefit having family and friends work for the Federal Government, basically Military. My Father was very high up in command. So when I came in the second time, I was worked up, manic, by the police. Now the police n my state have never really given me grief. But to be fair, I never gave them grief. Where I live, the cops aren't as "militaristic" and extreme as the Americans seem to be. (I am not here to debate about American Police brutality, by the way. I don't know enough to make an informed comment) Anyhow, as I was being walked into my bedroom, I casually said "I feel like I could go a few rounds". Just a general comment on how hyped I felt. HE sits in is seat and says "Why don't hyou hit me then": Now understand, where the same height, but I'm 110kg, and he is 70-80 at best. I am hyped up on stimulants. Not violent, but stimulated, saying silly things. But I realised, that if I took him up on his offer, I would have flogged him, before security got me. I realised, he hated his job and now that his buddies got kicked out, he didn't have thuggish security to use as muscle for his bullying. He wanted a compo payout, with the bonus of me getting locked up. I didn't hit him. Long story short, I took it up at the Hospital. I also said if he wants me to hit him, tell him challenged accepted, but on the outside. No security to back him up. No work pension/compo for getting hurt at wok. Basically the cops told me to knock it off. He couldn't work out why I wasn't charged, but I am sure he knows now. It's not that big of a town/city. So that's my One Flew Over The Cookoo's nest story. It has been my experience, that bullies go for jobs where they can legitimately assert their skills again. Or if they were bullied, get revenge. But the lesson I hope he has learned, is a quote from the Godfather 3. "Power soon wears those who don't have it" Binging your videos. You have a really sharp eye for cinematic and narrative themes. Keep up the great work
It’s a testament to the power of the movie that it is still so emotionally effecting. It touches on the core of humanity in that people who need help should be given it instead of being bullied and treated as less than human. Your quote from The Godfather is very apt and it also reminds us of the corrupting influence of power and when abused we can all be dehumanised. Thank you so much for sharing your story and I hope times are not as difficult for you as they might have been in the past. I’m very happy that you’re enjoying my videos and thanks again for adding more incite with your comment. All the best.
I think that Kirk Douglas bought the rights to the book and wanted to do a movie based on it at first. Years later his son eventually got involved a served as a producer.
It’s definitely worth a watch, there are some great scenes in there where you can see flashes of what made Jack Nicholson perfect for McMurphy. It’s a good companion to a lot of his early 70s work. Let me know what you think.
Great take on the subtext here that clearly runs just beneath the surface...I've never been able to articulate that anywhere near as well. Another film I find hard to watch because of all the emotions it stirs up in my anti authoritarian bones!
This one had me choked up a few times. Stirs up so much anger but is also such an optimistic film and Jack Nicholson plays those emotions so well.
Movie Birthdays yeah same here man. In my previous comment I said the subtext you highlight ‘clearly runs just beneath the surface’ but what I meant is that it is only so clear after watching your excellent analysis. I always had a vague sense of the anti authoritarian elements but you’re so right to go into that deeper. If anyone represented the ideals of freedom, individuality and the American dream its old Jack!
indeed, there is so much meaning and symbolism but it's harder to notice under such strong plot driven performances.
You brought up a great point that I never realized before that Milos Foreman characters are outsiders. I forgot about. "Hair", haven't seen it in decades.👍👍
@@MovieBirthdays Does anyone remember Jim Carrey's performance as Andy Kaufman in "The Man On The Moon"?
This channel is woefully underrated. Keep making the insightful and well thought out videos.
Thanks so much, more on the way before very soon. I’ve got a great selection of movies coming up.
Your powerful review really choked me up. I used to have the poster of Cuckoos nest on my wall when I was a teenager. The iconic image of Jack straining every sinew in his body trying to move the sink represented the power of giving it your all in the face of an impossible task. At least I tried is one of my favourite lines. Your review brought those teenage emotions to the surface again. The erosion of masculinity in our society is a worrying trend that needs to be rebelled against with McMurphy maniacal zeal. Thanks for your brilliant analysis. It lit up and paid off in silver dollars!
Brilliant review of still stunning film. When forman, Nicholson , Douglas zaentz and a hugely gifted cast mojos were fully committed
Wow. Beautiful and credible analysis. certainly a unique and genuine reaction while still being genuinely aware of important themes and plot/ writing elements at work. I love how you speak with such a genuine voice in your videos yet still manage to truly share insightful and original observations of the film making and performances. Like I've said before, so glad you're not on auto pilot, and truly speaking/ sharing with us in your own voice. Great editing as well, that is key. it's hand in glove.
Thanks again, this was a really great movie to revisit. The film is still so emotionally powerful that I guess that came across in the video. It’s hard not be be moved by the great performances and eternally relevant story.
absolute fantastic review of a undeniable classic.
Excellent review along with an engaging and insightful narrative for a memorable film that honours the power of the novel.
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the video.
Fantastic take. Such a beautiful film. Amadeus is also a must watch!
Thanks a lot, I was late to the party on Amadeus but once I saw it I was blown away.
I teared up at this review. You really understood it. I never got the Communist themes, not knowing much about the book or Author. But as someone who has been involantariedly (sic) hospitalised for mental illness, I really love this. (For the record, I am an Austistic Schizophrenic. So to be honest, at times I do belong in there).
The thing is, most places I have been in are pretty good. But it really does feel like a medium security prison at times. And whether or not you do need to be in there, you never really do want to stay there. But I have been in one hospital, where I currently live, where there was a Male Nurse Rachett. Now, the thing is, before I moved up here, I didn't know that there had been some deaths in the ward. Apparently an investigation was done , because the security guards and nurses were laughing over his body.
Not all patients are "saints". Some can be out and out "bad". It's very rare though. But this one Nurse, at this hospital, hated my guts. HE hated that I was smart, talking about science to a kid in there. He hated that in my own way, I would stand up to the more "abusive" staff. Unlike Jack's character however, I had the lucky benefit having family and friends work for the Federal Government, basically Military. My Father was very high up in command.
So when I came in the second time, I was worked up, manic, by the police. Now the police n my state have never really given me grief. But to be fair, I never gave them grief. Where I live, the cops aren't as "militaristic" and extreme as the Americans seem to be. (I am not here to debate about American Police brutality, by the way. I don't know enough to make an informed comment)
Anyhow, as I was being walked into my bedroom, I casually said "I feel like I could go a few rounds". Just a general comment on how hyped I felt. HE sits in is seat and says "Why don't hyou hit me then": Now understand, where the same height, but I'm 110kg, and he is 70-80 at best. I am hyped up on stimulants. Not violent, but stimulated, saying silly things. But I realised, that if I took him up on his offer, I would have flogged him, before security got me.
I realised, he hated his job and now that his buddies got kicked out, he didn't have thuggish security to use as muscle for his bullying. He wanted a compo payout, with the bonus of me getting locked up.
I didn't hit him. Long story short, I took it up at the Hospital. I also said if he wants me to hit him, tell him challenged accepted, but on the outside. No security to back him up. No work pension/compo for getting hurt at wok. Basically the cops told me to knock it off. He couldn't work out why I wasn't charged, but I am sure he knows now. It's not that big of a town/city.
So that's my One Flew Over The Cookoo's nest story. It has been my experience, that bullies go for jobs where they can legitimately assert their skills again. Or if they were bullied, get revenge. But the lesson I hope he has learned, is a quote from the Godfather 3. "Power soon wears those who don't have it"
Binging your videos. You have a really sharp eye for cinematic and narrative themes. Keep up the great work
It’s a testament to the power of the movie that it is still so emotionally effecting. It touches on the core of humanity in that people who need help should be given it instead of being bullied and treated as less than human. Your quote from The Godfather is very apt and it also reminds us of the corrupting influence of power and when abused we can all be dehumanised.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and I hope times are not as difficult for you as they might have been in the past. I’m very happy that you’re enjoying my videos and thanks again for adding more incite with your comment. All the best.
Fantastic analysis...think you got to the bottom of RP McMurphy.
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the video.
Fantastic breakdown as always.
Thanks mate, appreciate the feedback
I think that Kirk Douglas bought the rights to the book and wanted to do a movie based on it at first. Years later his son eventually got involved a served as a producer.
That’s right, I think Kirk Douglas wanted to do it as a play initially, luckily the plan came through to deliver such a heartbreaker.
@@MovieBirthdays You are right, I apology. Kirk did want to do it as a play.
@@kennethrussell1158 I think it was a play then an movie, so you were right. No apology needed.
Another fantastic summary and video, always look forward to them and you made me want to dig this film out of my collection for a rewatch.
Thanks Barry, it’ll be time we’ll spent. I forgot how powerful this movie was until I rewatched it for this video.
@@MovieBirthdays have you seen Five Easy Piece's?
I've seen most of Nicholson's films but that one passed me by!
If so is it worth a watch?
It’s definitely worth a watch, there are some great scenes in there where you can see flashes of what made Jack Nicholson perfect for McMurphy. It’s a good companion to a lot of his early 70s work. Let me know what you think.
@@MovieBirthdays thanks I will.