Only the second film in history to nab the 'Big Five' of Best Picture, Director, Actress, Actor and Screenplay at the Academy Awards, Milos Forman's literary adaptation deals with themes of oppression, individualism and the dichotomy between tyranny and sanity in one of cinema's great dramas. Louise Fletcher dominates the movie with an iconically villainous turn as Nurse Ratched, made all the more impressive when you consider Jack Nicholson, one of the greatest actors of all-time, is also on electrifying form as protagonist Randall McMurphy. However, it is more than just a two-hander and the rest of the ensemble deliver strong performances, enhanced by a razor-sharp script, assured direction and Jack Nitzche's memorable score. Running the full emotional spectrum from hilarious and heartwarming to outright depressing, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest also packs a satirical edge that reflects the post-Vietnam time period in presenting the battle between the free-spirited and those in a position of authority, without ever getting too preachy.
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