One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975

Try to forget that the residents housed in the asylum act no stranger than your goofiest friends. Because this movie isn't about crazy people, it's about the reaction to establishment and conformity, and the ability to escape from oppression. Racial tension still defined much of the decade, and the nature of the film helped in winning five academy awards in 1975, including best picture, director and actor. The inmate roles include a younger Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd. You almost can't recognize DeVito, what with the unibrow. Actually, I think Lloyd might have sported a unibrow, too. Nicholson reportedly improvised a lot on the set. Much of the conversation he has between the director upon arriving is improvised, including the comments about the fishing photo and discussing his rape conviction. The reactions come out incredibly authentic.