Thursday, April 26, 2012
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest---4/30 Blog Post
Okay guys, here is a video from the movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) starring Jack Nicholson as a character Randle McMurphy, who is a convicted criminal, who thought it would be better to convince people he was insane, so he could live a little better, more privileged life in an insane asylum as opposed to living in a prison. Little does he know when he arrives there, that the head nurse is controlling, and tells the patients how to do everything with their lives, and gives them very little freedom. Randle McMurphy is a rebel, and does everything to oppose these controlling standards. In this particular scene, Randle is "imagining" the World Series being played on the TV, because the patients are not allowed to watch it.
There are many questions that could be asked in this situation. How do you react to the video? What do you think Jack Nicholson's character is trying to prove? What does the fact the other patients get involved tell you? What does this video imply about imagination, hope, and freedom? Are there any hidden messages? Is Jack Nicholson's character justified in doing this, or is it out of line? Do you see any comic relief element in it? How does this character match up with some of Jack Nicholson's other film roles he has played? You are also free to express any other thoughts you might have.
Connecting to our class theme, what does this music in the background do in this context?
From Chris , Jeremy, Sam, and Youssef
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18 comments:
This video was very bizarre to watch. Jack Nicholson tried to cheat the system in order to make his life better after his first mistake. However when it came to the World Series, his plan back fired. In terms of the other patients, they glorified Nicholson. They joined in on the fun that Nicholson was creating even though it wasn't real. One message is that do not take anything for granted because you never know when you are going to lose them. In this case, Nicholson lost his chance to watch the world series. I think he is justified in his actions because while he is in a bad situation, he is trying to make the most of his situation.
This is very strange to watch considering everyone is cheering for the world series while standing in front of a T.V. that isn't even turned on. Jack Nicholson's character is making the best out of the situation that he is stuck in. He seems to realize that even though he is not able to watch the world series, he can still try to get some excitement out of the game by pretending to watch it. The other patients get involved so that they can be a part of the fun too, they see him having fun and figured they might as well join in too. The message of this video is to make the best out of every situation you are in. Jack Nicholson's character is not in a good situation, he is in an insane asylum where the nurse is controlling, but he is still able to make his own fun and be happy. Comic relief is used in the video, for example when he says "somebody get me a weener". He is joking around and making the other patients around him happy.
Well, after reading the last two comments, and since of the group of 4 people who presenting this blog, I took chief command in this particular post. I want to say a few things about it. The main idea in my mind of this video is that Jack Nicholson's character is trying to show the nurse that even though she may have control of the objects he uses, she does not have control over his own personal subjectivity. THAT is the main message in my mind, that people can never control your own personal beliefs, and opinions. I understand how some of you feel that the main idea is to make the most of bad situation, but that is a secondary message, the main message is personal freedom. Also, I want people to not just regurgitate facts, and answer my questions in a list like fashion, I want you to start new ideas, and analyze the video, not just talk about you personal reaction, or the facts, but HOW and WHY the video is important.
You don't have to answer every question just the ones you feel are important.
Jack Nicholson is known for playing neurotic characters like this in the past, and that is what I think makes this role fit with other stuff he has done such as the Joker.
Please don't put another post up saying how "bizarre" or "unusual" the video is, that is kind've the whole point of the scene and the whole reason Nicholson acted that way.
Randle McMurphy, in the video clip, is an image of freedom. He was trying to look for greater degree freedom in the asylum but it turns out the head nurse who has the control of nearly everything makes the asylum a place even worse than the prison. Having a rebellious nature, Randle tries to disprove the nurses by acting as if the World Series is showing and thus ignites the emotion of the other patients. When he does so, the atmosphere of the video changes dramatically from a depressed tone (everyone looks sad and emotional) into a joyful scenario. This contrary between depress and joy correspond to absence and presence of freedom respectively. So, the video could be saying that freedom is essential for happiness and when there is no freedom, there will be no joy.
It is bizarre and unusual as well.
This is a great scene to a fantastic movie. Jack Nicholson is rebelling against the nurse to express his own personal freedom. This is an important message because everyone is stripped personal freedom while in this insane asylum. The other characters are adding more effect to this rebellion by joining in, even though they don’t understand what they’re doing. They message is clearly sent to the nurse. This role is very similar to other movies starring Jack Nicholson such as The Shinning and the old Batman movies where he plays the Joker. Jack seems to always play a character that comes off to be slightly crazy in a comical way. The music adds to the comic relief of this scene. This is because the music is very calm and seems like it would be played in a quiet nursing home. The screaming of people act the complete opposite of what the music suggest.
Personally, I found a lot of humor in the clip because McMurphy is pretending to be insane and by doing so, he gets the rest of the actual mentally ill to join in. I don’t know if they’re going along with it or if they’re just so crazy that they actually believe that the game is going on but the scene is very comical in my eyes. McMurphy is trying to solidify the fact that he’s insane by pulling this stunt but it also shows a theme of freedom in the fact that he can’t and won’t be controlled by the nurse. Obviously it is out of line, but it’s McMurphy’s way of saying, “you’re not the boss of me.” This is a typical, crazy Jack Nicholson in a role that requires him to have emotional outbursts that are either full of hilarity or of madness.
Jack Nicholson's character is trying to prove how easily people are swayed when they know they are crazy, and how easy it is to manipulate the system. The fact that the other patients get involved shows how much power Randle McMurphy has over the other patients, since he isn't actually insane at first. I don't think that this scene portrays a lot of hope or freedom, just a bunch of crazy people who believe they are honestly watching a baseball game. They especially have no freedom because they are trapped by their insanity. There is certainly comic relief in this scene, which is brought on by Randle McMurphy. Jack Nicholson's character in this movie definitely matches with characters in his other movies because several of his other characters have been very serious and mentally a little bit off. The music in the background adds to the craziness of the situation because it reminds me of elevator music or even waiting room music. Calm music contrasts the crazy situation.
I have never even heard of this movie let alone seen it. Jack Nicholson is a very good actor however. While this is a strange scene to chose, it is also very interesting. I think it is funny that even though Jack Nicholson is trying to cheat the system there are sone things he cannot get to go his way. I don't think the way Nicholson's character acts is at all out line. I think it is funny he is enjoying something that he is completely making up. It is sad to see that while this is sort of a joke to him, the other patients think it is real since they actually have a real disability.
I don't really think there is humor in this video clip.... yes, it makes me smile and joyful because it is a beautiful thing what is going on, but I wouldn't call it humor or comical. Jack Nicholson has every right to do what he does in this scene, it's not weird or inappropriate, or taboo in any way.
The message of this video appears to be about the power of imagination and how it works in a big group setting. Imagination is not very fun when you are by yourself, but as more of the patients became entranced by Nicholson's reenactment, the imagination was powerful enough to transform an entire group of people. I think using patients in an insane asylum is a good way to show what a little imagination can do. Imagination is not only for children, but it does bring the youth out in everyone. The imagination then ties into hope. The patients became more hopeful and the audience can also see this with the joy of the patients.
The music is very soothing. In the beginning when only the music is playing, it prefaces to the audience that this scene is not going to be super intense. It invites the audience to be entranced by Nicholson's actions and create this "warm and fuzzy feeling" inside of us.
I think the video is kinda funny at some parts but i felt so sorry for the patients, totally epic scene. I don't think Jack Nicholson anything, I think he just wanna tease the nurse and change his daily routine by "imagining" the World Series being played on the TV. even if it for just a few mins, he changed the scene from being boring, quite and depressing to be more fun for him, and the other patients. I didn't see any Jack Nicholson movies before to match up this character with his previous roles but i guess, getting out of your shell every once in a while, is always interesting.
The music was so steady and sharp the whole video in spite of the patients voices reactions and interaction at end.
This video is funny and the explanation helped me a lot to understand this video. I think Jack Nicholson is eccentric and full of tricks. First, Jack try to convince people he was insane in order to live in an insane asylum as which will offer him much more freedom contrast to the prison he stays previously. Second, after Jack finds out that insane asylum is not as good as he imagine which the head nurse is controlling everything and only gives the patients a few freedom, Jack meditates resentfully on the head nurse. The video shows the way Jack rebel against the head nurse for freedom which imagines the World Series being played on the TV. I do not know if it will work or not, did Jack successes at the end and get freedom? Jack is a criminal, but he still fight for freedom.
This is a very interesting video. I agree with some of the previous people that he is trying to make the best of his situation. I think the fact that the other patients join in just shows that they want to find a way to add a little spice to their otherwise boring lives. This video could imply that if you have a good imagination you can make the best of any situation.
At first, I thought this clip was a little weird, but after reading the summary I understand the context of the situation. With that I said, I no longer think it's weird; it's more moving. Even though he cheated the system, I still feel like he, at this moment, was doing a good thing. He's adding a little 'light' and imagination to their day, so it doesn't feel like they're all in prison. By Randale showing a little hope, fun, and freedom, it shows the other patients that they can have fun there too, despite the mean nurse. Overall, I believe this clip implies that no matter how oppressing the situation, you can always try to make the best of it. Even the music was uplifting and inspiring.
When watching this video, I felt bad for the patients Randale was living with. The nurse obviously doesn't want them to have any fun, they are deprived of the good things in life and they can't stand up for themselves. There are too many times that we hear the horrible treatment and neglect that goes on in nursing homes, mental hospitals, and insane asylums. The patients are people too, and they desereve to be treated like it. I think this clip shows just a little bit of how bad people treat them someimes.
This video is very much anti-tyranny and establishment. The video shows that even the insane feel oppression and yearn for freedom. One of the most powerful tools to fight for freedom is hope. Nicholson gives the other patients hope for freedom by acting as the World Series Announcer. The other patients acting along with him show that they too feel the oppression forced upon them by the nurse.
Nicholoson is very justified in doing this. Every one should be entitled to Freedom of Expression, even the "insane".
I have never actually seen this movie but I think that this scene is pretty interesting to look at. I think that, like Chris said, Jack Nicholson's character is trying to show the head nurse that while she might think she has total power, she can't control their imaginations and what they think. I think that the video also provides a little bit of comic relief because it is somewhat funny that they are cheering for a game that they aren't even watching. The music also plays an important roll in this clip, I think that it is music that kind of takes some tension out of the scene and makes it a little more lighthearted.
I think the video is very educational, it has showed me what is important in the life. In my opinion Jack Nicholson was trying to prove you can always find freedom in a senseless world as long as you have your imagination. Imagination can be passed on from people to people and that is its beauty. We can be trapped physically, but nobody can ever trap our imagination, as long we have our imagination we will have hope, and freedom. Imagination can take us to anywhere and at time. Jack Nicholson is justified in doing this, because in staffs’ eyes he was just doing crazy things. It was pretty funny when everybody was yelling and cheering something that wasn’t even there. The video was trying to send us a massage; life is limited, but imagination is infinite.
I really like this video. It shows that you need to just "let go" sometimes. By this I mean that, Jack's character obviously has pent up anger/regret so imagining that his team is winning the world series allows him to let go, and get all his feelings out, even if it is in a different way than we are used to. This video also shows how contagious imagination is. If you open up your mind, a boring day can become really exciting if you imagine something exciting is happening.
I think the music is playing a big part in the video because it is quiet and anti-climactic, even though all of the patients are cheering. This makes it seem like a really sad part of the movie, like we are supposed to feel sorry for the patients.
I feel that he is somewhat entitled to do what he is doing, but not simply for his own benefit. It is not right that the nurse is so oppressive of the patients, and I think that if Randle's intention in doing this is for the insane patients to feel a little bit of joy, then he is justified; if, however, he is doing it simply because he doesn't like the nurse and wants to show her up, then he's not. I think that the fact that he brings up the comedic "wiener" line is justification that he is, in fact, doing this for the other patients.
This video implies that imagination, hope, and freedom are vitally important for all people, even the insane who cannot completely reason for themselves. This, I think, is the reason why the other patients got involved.
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