Louise Fletcher

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

When it comes to 1970’s cinema, there was a sense of exploration, discovery and reflection that hasn’t been found in Hollywood since that decade. The filmmakers had a lot to get off their chests, and their way to process what they were seeing and feeling was through their moviemaking.  One of my favorite films from that decade was 1975’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with this 4K release. I’ve always connected with films which have a powerful message and leave a lasting impression on me as a viewer long after the viewing experience has ended. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is one of my favorite films of all-time, and one I find myself returning to often as a viewer.

I must confess that one of the reasons I connect with the material is because I’ve battled with mental illness for a good majority of my life, and I’ve also spent time in a psychiatric hospital. When you have a mental illness and tell people about it, they usually look at you sideways and they handle you with care. They think if they do something to upset you, rub you the wrong way, or make you unhappy, you are going to end up back in the hospital again. Friends and family “proceed with caution” when they are around you.  It’s frustrating and challenging. In Miloš Forman’s film, written by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, it challenges you to expect more out of yourself, not be put in a box, and to live and be free despite your mental illness.

But I digress. Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) ends up in a mental institution after having one too many brushes with the law. In his mind, instead of facing further punishment, it’s better to claim insanity and spend time in the mental institution.  Even though he’s a criminal, he’s no dummy. He’s charming, funny and charismatic, which immediately makes him enemies with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), who is colder than a mother-in-law’s heart with her treatment of the patients at the hospital. She knows they probably do not have the strength or energy to fight back, and she’s going to take full advantage of that.

Randle shows up, and he gives them a sense of purpose, an identity, and a reason to live. He encourages them to think for themselves, stand up for themselves, and not let their mental illness define them. The cast of actors is filled with Hollywood legends such as Christopher Lloyd, Brad Dourif and Danny DeVito. They all make their presence known with their performances without being too showy or over-the-top. In a film about people in a mental institution, it would have been easy to be loud, goofy, or to act like a complete loon. Instead, they are nuanced and unique. Another standout is Chief Bromden, played by Will Sampson. He’s a deaf-mute who is clearly processing a lot in his head, and Randle is determined to get through to him.

Another reason “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” speaks to me is the idea of standing up to authority.  I’ve always been someone who doesn’t like being told what to do, doesn’t like following rules which don’t make any sense, and likes to challenge outdated notions. If you tell me I can’t do something, I want to know why and not just be told, “Because I told you so. These are the rules.” I want to understand the rules and why they are in place, and if they don’t add up, I’m going to speak up on that issue. I’ve never been one who likes to be silenced. This was the way of 1970’s cinema. It was about being confrontational and in-your-face without apologies or excuses.

The great movies in Hollywood have been those which stand the test of time because they strike a chord with the audience. The screenplay for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.  The performances, top to bottom, are amazing. For my money, this is Jack Nicholson’s best performance of his legendary and storied career. From his facial expressions to the way he delivers his lines, his performance is a masterpiece. You can’t take your eyes off him when he’s on screen. It reminds me of the old line from the legendary wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Just when you think you have the answers, I change the questions.” Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched is perfect to play opposite Jack, as she shows no emotion. She’s cold, matter-of-fact, and unflinching. She knows she has all of the power, and she’s not afraid to wield it. She enjoys being the puppet master.

If I’m lucky enough to live another 50 years, I’ll still enjoy “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” It’s a perfect example of old-school Hollywood craftsmanship. There is a reason why it is one of only three films to win Oscars in the major five categories (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay). This is a flawless piece of cinema, and it fuels me with energy, enthusiasm and passion. I’m going to sound like the old man shouting at the cloud here, but this is how Hollywood used to make movies.  This is a movie about people dealing with emotions, challenges and problems.  We are with them every step of their journey, and we are invested in them. When we are watching the movie, we forget we are watching characters.

* * * * out of * * * *

4K info: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The film has a running time of 133 minutes and is rated R for language and violence.

4K Video Info: I love the way 4K HDR enhances the picture quality but still keeps the integrity of the film alive. The picture is crisp and clear, but it also knows when to be dark and moody depending on the scene and the mood.

4K Audio Info: The DTS-HD Master Audio track comes with subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. The audio track is more subdued throughout the film, as it’s in a mental hospital, but it’s not so subdued that you have to turn it up or can’t hear it.  It also knows when to make the soundtrack more powerful and intense during the impactful moments of the film.

Special Features:

Conversations on Cuckoo: Group Therapy (NEW)

Conversations on Cuckoo: Moviemaking Memories (NEW)

Completely Cuckoo

Deleted Scenes

Should You Buy It?

I would hope after reading my review, you would know the answer is a resounding HELL YES. If you haven’t picked up on that, I haven’t done a very good job in my review. The film also comes with a pair of fun new special features, with my personal favorite being the one that includes conversations with vital cast members about the casting process they went through fifty years ago. Warner Brothers is one of the few big studios that is not only releasing classic films on 4K, but they are also taking the time and effort to include some new special features as well. The film has never looked or sounded better than it does with this 4K release. You can buy the 4K in either a slipcover version or a steelbook. The film itself is a masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time. This has been one of my favorite releases of 2025.  As a film lover, you owe it to yourself to add this film to your collection.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

Worst Movie Trailers Ever: ‘Grizzly II – Revenge’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Okay, I have not seen this particular sequel yet, nor have I seen the workprint which has been floating around the internet for years. But seriously, I came across not just one but two trailers for “Grizzly II: Revenge,” and neither of them try to hide how god awful this film must be. It’s bad enough the title reminds me of another excruciatingly awful sequel involving a killer animal, “Jaws: The Revenge,” but this one is so shameless in inviting audiences to check it out regardless of its subpar filmmaking on display (and that’s being generous).

Truth be told, “Grizzly II’s” backstory is bound to be far more interesting than the film itself. A sequel to the 1976 “Jaws” knock-off “Grizzly,” it was made back in 1983, but its production quickly got derailed due to a lack of funding, constant feuding behind the scenes, and technical issues with its 16-foot mechanical bear. 37 years later, after a ton of legal wrangling, it is now being shown in its final cut. But unlike other long-lost films such as “Gone with The Pope” or long in the making sequels like “I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà vu,” this one is unlikely to be worth the wait.

The first thing we in these trailers is the appearance of a couple of Oscar winners, George Clooney and Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen before he did “Platoon.” Their names headline this movie, but as we can see, they are not in it for very long. We see their screaming faces up close, and it is clear the bear will treat this trio as dinner since hibernation is out of the question. This is not the first time recognizable names have been exploited to garner attention for a movie, and it won’t be the last either.

From there, we are introduced to actors who are forced to spout ridiculous dialogue a film like this always has to offer. A female scientist tells a group that the bear they are hunting is “huge.” No! Really??!! I mean, heaven forbid the bear they are dealing with is a small one! Can you imagine a little cub going psycho on so many stupid and unsuspecting humans?

There is also a brief moment with Louise Fletcher of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” fame telling someone to kill the bear as soon as possible because there is a big concert coming up. And then we have John Rhys-Davies playing what I guess is a mountain man of sorts, and he has one of those dramatic moments where he pauses before saying something intended to be hair-raising (“It’s very bad… you got the devil bear!”).

Speaking of the concert, we are shown some of it as well. But while the crowd looks huge, the onstage performers look like they are re-enacting scenes from the so bad it’s good rock musical “The Apple.”

But perhaps the biggest problem with these trailers is the lack of the bear itself. We hear it grunting throughout and see its point of view from time to time, but we never see its face until the last few seconds. Before this, we see Davies preparing to attack it, and it looks like the actor is about to attack a big pile of wool designed to look like a bear’s legs. Clearly there is no real bear there as it would have gobbled up Davies before he had a chance to draw a weapon.

In the end, these trailers for “Grizzly II: Revenge” represent filmmaking and marketing at its most cynical. The producers are simply looking for a quick buck here as they are exploiting big names and this film’s troubled production history for all it is worth. This sequel may have been 37 years in the making, but that was never intended to be the case. Its production was simply a case of very bad luck, and now this sequel exists as a mere oddity.

All of this just makes me miss Bart The Bear, a real-life grizzly who upstaged Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin in “The Edge.” Now if Bart were in this, it just might have been worth watching.