One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
The symbolism of the film is not quite as predominant as the book by Ken Kesey but it's still there. Nicholson character, Randle McMurphy, is a flat out heroic Christ figure. The shower scene represents baptism. He has twelve followers. Quotes like "anointest my head with conductant," "Do I get a crown of thrones?" are just a few of the many clues. And, of course, it culminates with McMurphy sacrificing himself to save others.
About Schmidt, 2002
I"m currently reading Will Willimon's book on aging. It's written for pastors but most of what he says is food for thought for all of us. At one point he recommends that all pastors who are anticipating retirement see "About Schmidt." Nicholson plays a bitter, mean guy who's been forced into retirement. His wife has died after a long unhappy marriage, including her unfaithfulness with his friend, Ray. Schmidt is miserable so he decides to take a road trip in his RV to his daughter's wedding where he plans to make trouble. As with many symbolic road trips, he finds redemption. But not before we have to endure a nude scene with Kathy Bates in a hot tub.
In the end Schmidt says to his dead wife, "I forgive you for Ray. I forgive you. That was a long time ago, and I know I wasn't always the king of kings. I let you down. I'm sorry Helen."
As Good As It Gets, 1997
This is, by far, my favorite Nicholson movie. I watched it again yesterday. This, too, is a flat out redemption film. Nicholson's character, Melvin Udall, is a horrible man. He lives in a high rise in Manhattan and throws his neighbor's little dog down the garbage chute. (And this is before the opening credits even role.) He suffers from the severest form of OCD and finds it almost impossible to live with other human beings. As the story unfolds we are introduced to other suffering, flawed people - whose lives are made even more miserable by knowing Nicholson. But, after baby steps toward wholeness, while on (another) road trip, three of them receive redemption. To me, the character played by the great Helen Hunt is the Christ figure. In a penultimate scene, Melvin takes her to dinner. She's very poor but has on what might be her very best clothes. He wants to impress her but, when they get to the restaurant, he's required to wear a tie and jacket, which the restaurant offers to provide. But his OCD requires him to leave, find a men's store, and buy a new coat and tie, while leaving her waiting. When he gets back to the table he says, "Why did I have to buy this when they let you in wearing a house dress." She tells him his time's up if he can't give her one sincere compliment. So he comes up with this. He tells her his psychiatrist wanted to put him on medication but he HATES, HATES pills. She gives him a look, like so what? And then he tells her, since knowing her, he's been taking the pills. She's still not impressed.
But he ends with "You make me want to be a better man." That, to me, was pure redemption.
The film is harsh and raw throughout but thoroughly entertaining, sweet and funny. At a midway point Melvin tries to bully his way into his psychiatrist's office and promptly gets thrown out. In the waiting room full of suffering people he screams, "Maybe this is as good as it gets."
The good news about redemption is: "It's never as good as it gets."
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