Cuckoo's Nest Movie Analysis

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Girl, Interrupted” are two, dark humored, drama films that both depict the experiences of a sane protagonist while institutionalized. United Artists and Warner Home Video’s presented “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1975. A fictional drama film that took place in the early 1960’s starred: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Will Sampson. In contrast, Columbia Pictures presented “Girl, Interrupted” in 1999. A drama film based on the memoir of Susanna Kaysen that took place in the late 1960’s, featured actresses: Winona Ryder, Whoopi Goldberg, and Angelina Jolie. Although both pictures’ earned many achievements, the main character, plot, and conclusion of “Girl, Interrupted” made the movie an absolute

success and a better film of the two.
Both of the main characters entertain the viewers while adapting to an institutional lifestyle; however, the protagonist in “Girl, Interrupted” delivers a realistic and captivating performance. In “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Jack Nicholson plays Randall McMurphy. He is a rebellious, presumptuous convict who claims insanity in order to eschew his prison sentence. The head of the psychiatric hospital granted him two weeks of stay in order for staff to evaluate him. On the other hand, the main character of “Girl, Interrupted,” is Susanna Kaysen. Actress Winona Ryder takes on the role of a troubled, depressed young woman, who attempts suicide, which results in an eighteen month mental hospital stay. Unlike Susanna, McMurphy ridiculously challenges the asylum’s status quo and brings humor and excitement to the patients at the institution. He finds self-worth in each of them and absorbs them with his tongue-in-cheek humor. Different from McMurphy, Susanna consumes a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka and earns herself a brief rest at Claymore where they diagnose her with Borderline Personality Disorder. Whereas McMurphy is a comical character, Susanna displays a much deeper and more meaningful purpose as she begins conforming to the styles of the troubled women at the hospital.
In “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” McMurphy meets the emotionless, tyrannical head Nurse Ratched who exercises her power to medicate and orders electric convulsive shocks to numb the residents.

He also meets Chief Bromden, a deaf and dumb Indian who McMurphy discovers is truly neither. Conversely, in “Girl, Interrupted,” once Susanna admits into the ward, she is oriented to the facility by the compassionate, head Nurse Valerie Owens whom truly cares for her patients and establishes relationships with each. Susanna also meets Lisa Rowe, a striking sociopath who influences her greatly. Both the head nurse and supporting actresses of “Girl, Interrupted” contribute to the films emotional intensity that engages the

audience.
The plot in “Girl, Interrupted” was absorbing and persuasive; whereas the plot in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” was dubious and imprudent.

McMurphy experiences the unnecessary methods of control they use excessively on the patients in the ward. He becomes greatly disturbed by this and rebels, even kidnapping everyone to set sail on a fishing adventure. Unlike Susanna in “Girl, Interrupted,” McMurphy originally wanted to abstain from the correctional system; however, he learns that he had become captive of a system that might not ever give him freedom. Similar to McMurphy, Susanna develops relationships with the patients and considers them “friends.” She felt like she belonged somewhere for the first time in her life. Furthermore, while adjusting to institutional life, she relates her experiences with the characters and the effect that they will have on her for the rest of her life. In contrast to McMurphy, we are not even sure that Susanna wants to leave the hospital. She has made “friends” and “if they are crazy, so is

she.”
The conclusion of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was eerie and despairing; whereas, the conclusion of “Girl, Interrupted” was pleasant and hopeful. In “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” McMurphy plans to escape with Chief and his plans fall apart after a night of partying at the hospital. Angry at Nurse Ratched for a tragedy that takes place, he strangles her until the guards are able to remove him. He then undergoes a lobotomy that leaves him brain dead and vegetable-like. Unlike McMurphy, Susanna becomes determined to leave and strives to do exactly that. She complies with the rules of Claymore and “grows up” in a sense. In the end, she is no longer a girl who’s “interrupted.”
While engaged in both main characters during their hospital stay, Winona Ryder’s role and her supporting actresses that executed the movie’s plot and events delivered an outstanding performance. However, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” nominated for nine academy awards, won all five of the major nominations. Whereas, “Girl, Interrupted” won an Oscar Academy Award for best supporting actress. Despite “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’s” astounding achievements, I believe “Girl, Interrupted” did a better performance in executing all major film aspects; the main character, plot, and conclusion.