Jack Nicholson – cinemescope

100 Word Review – The Departed (2006)

February 2, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged Action, Alec Baldwin, crime, dark, Drama, IMDb, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Scorsese, Martin Sheen, Matt Damon, Oscars, Ray Winston, William Monaghan1 Comment

If the film that (finally) won Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Shutter Island) his Oscar isn’t worth watching, then I’m not sure what is.

Screenplay by William Monaghan (Body of Lies, Edge of Darkness), it’s set in the duplicitous world inhabited by Boston’s mafia and law enforcement.

Intense, beautifully shot and with a cast to die for (Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winston), it has a truly brilliant soundtrack.

With four Oscars and at #43 on IMDb’s Top 250, I’d call it perfect, if only there were some strong women in it.

100 Word Review – One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (1975)

July 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged 1960s, adaptation, Bo Goldman, Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito, Drama, IMDb, Jack Nicholson, Ken Kesey, Lawrence Hauben, Louise Fletcher, Milos Foreman, OscarsLeave a comment

Jack Nicholson at his finest in this superb adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel about the inner workings of 1960s mental institutes.

McMurphy (Nicholson) pleads insanity rather than face his prison sentence thinking it will be the easier option. He is mistaken.

Louise Fletcher won an Oscar for her portrayal of the terrifying Nurse Ratchet; Nicholson nabbed one for Best Actor; Milos Foreman won Best Director: Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman were awarded Best Screenplay for their adaptation; and with the help of the marvellous cast (Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd) ensured the Best Picture win.

Little wonder it’s #15 on IMDb’s Top 250.