Episode 23, January 15th 2012

Welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun review the Best Picture Academy Award Winner and top box office earner of the same year. We take a fresh look at films new and old to see who was right the critics or the masses. This time, we check out two classic movies from 1975: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Highbrow) and Jaws (Lowbrow).

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, directed by Milos Forman, stars Jack Nicholson as Randall P. McMurphy a prison inmate transferred to a mental hospital who seeks to help the patients rediscover the essence of life they shy away from. Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher, is the head nurse trying to maintain control over the ward as McMurphy threatens chaos. With a slew of recognized names as patients, from Danny Devito to Christopher Lloyd, it's a real bizarre collection of characters. The strength of this movie is in the ongoing battle between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy, McMurphy trying to free them from their placid lifestyle while Ratched uses it to keep them sane. The joy the patients get from McMurphy's presence is really infectious, and one can see a sincere human effect that he has on his fellow patients. However, McMurphy shows a willful ignorance about who and what his friends are really about. Technically, the film offers little innovation; the score doesn't stand out and the cinematography is serviceable. Still, this film brings you into a unique environment with a unique perspective that manages to be entertaining as well as thought provoking.

Jaws, directed by Steven Spielburg, is the classic thriller movie that starred everyone's favorite monster, Jaws, and spurred a deep seated fear of the ocean in many. Chief Martin Brody, played Roy Scheider, is trying to protect the town of Amity from becoming shark food, enlisting the help of geeky oceanist Matt Hooper, played by Richard Deryfus and grizzled old Quint, played by Robert Shaw. There seemed to be several curious elements of the story, but in the end, they added a unique quirk and humor to the story that helped make it classic. Shaun and Jesse where split on Robert Shaw's Quint: Jesse thought it was over the top, but Shaun dug the swarthy seaman. The legend and terror of the shark is masterfully executed, keeping the creature off screen to build up tension, and a magnificent reveal when you finally see the massive horrifying thing. The music in Jaws is classic John Williams fare, full of adventure and undeniably memorable. It's a classic film that redefined monster movies and the scale with which you could tell them.

So which film did Jesse and Shaun prefer? The meaningful and poignant One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Highbrow) or the monster movie of the masses, Jaws (Lowbrow)? Tune in and give us a listen to find out!