One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Every actor brings something to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but the lead performance is genuinely extraordinary. The subtlety involved, the way the character changes without announcing it — it's a masterclass.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest builds so carefully to its conclusion that when it arrives you feel genuinely moved. The institutional power thread pays off in a way that's earned rather than manipulative. Couldn't sleep afterward.