Movie of the Week – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

This week’s movie: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).

Based on Edward Albee’s play, the drama is about an aging academic couple who invites a young couple over for drinks. Fueled by alcohol, they use the young couple to play out their feelings of anguish and emotional pain towards each other.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is director Mike Nichols’s first film, launching a great career (which includes: The Graduate – which I particularly like, Angels in America, Closer, and Charlie Wilson’s War). He worked with composer Alex North, cinematographer Haskell Wexler (who won an Oscar for the film; he was one of the great D.P.s of the 1960s/1970s shooting this, In the Heat of the Night,  The Conversation, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), and production designer Richard Sylbert (who also won an Oscar for the film).

It stars Elizabeth Taylor (who won an Oscar) and Richard Burton, who both give powerhouse performances – some of the best work of their respective careers. George Segal and Sandy Dennis (who also won an Oscar) feature in support, and are both very good as well.

In all the film won five Oscars and was nominated for Best Picture. At the time of its release, the subject matter was quite controversial, and it still holds its string even today (though, it is not as shocking). Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a must-see for fans of strong rich dramatic performances, as the whole film is centered around the wonderful work of Taylor and Burton.

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD and Streaming

Movie of the Week – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

This week’s movie is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975).

The drama is about R.P. McMurphy, condemned to a mental institution that he does not belong at (or at least he thinks he does not belong at), he contends to bring hope and fun to his fellow patients. However, he is often stifled by the overbearing Nurse Ratched, causing a war of escalation. The film is directed by auteur Milos Forman, and is among his great works (with Amadeus, Loves of a Blonde and The Firemen’s Ball – Amadeus is my favorite of his films). He collaborated on the film with composer Jack Nitzsche, great director of photography Haskell Wexler and production designer Paul Sylbert. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, however, is probably more known for its performances from a fantastic cast – especially from lead Jack Nicholson, as his R.P. McMurphy is one of the great characters of cinema history. There is good work from Brad Dourif, Christopher Lloyd, Louise Fletcher, Danny DeVito, Will Sampson, Sydney Lassick, and William Redfield as well. The film won five Oscars including Best Actor (Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Fletcher), Director, Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. In addition to being very well written and acted, it is a wonderful character study – leading me to question whether or not McMurphy is actually criminally insane. The whole issue of mental health and how it is dealt with in places like asylums is critically scathed by the film – it is both a harsh attack and a thoughtful discussion, which not very often the case. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a must-see for fans of Nicholson and character pieces, as well as those looking to be familiar with the great films in American cinema. Check out the trailer.

Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Streaming