Of Mice And Men [1992]

The movie is about two men who travel together all the time, hoping to own an acre of land and a nice home they can call their own. George is a smart man who always seems to have things figured out. Lennie is a giant with a mind of a young child. George looks after him, but it is not easy. Lennie always seems to get himself in some kind of trouble, and George is always the one who has to help him out. The two eventually land jobs on a ranch, hoping to make enough money to make their dreams come true. But that might be difficult when Lennie once again gets the two in serious trouble.

The movie is directed by Gary Sinise, who does a spectacular job of bringing Steinbeck's wonderful novel to life. Just from seeing this movie alone, I think he has nothing but talent when it comes to sitting in the director's chair. He really should direct more. Also, he is a great actor, and plays the role of George flawlessly. He's about everything I envisioned when reading the book.

John Malkovich plays Lennie, and does an outstanding job at doing so. I sort of had my doubts at first, because I thought of Lennie as a giant, and Malkovich didn't seem like a giant to me. Well, when I was watching the movie, that all changed. He did the part justice. It's a crime that he didn't win anything for his role (or at least nothing I am aware of.)

The movie stays very true to the book. Sure, as always, there are things removed or added. Mostly, there are things added because the novel is so short, they needed to add things to make the movie longer. Everything that was added worked and stayed true to the original story. And in all honesty, I think the way the ending is presented in the film really works and captures the tone perfectly.

"Of Mice and Men" is a spectacular movie that should've won a couple of Academy Awards. Everything about this film was outstanding. It is one I will watch over and over again. If you loved the book, chances are you will love the movie. And if you haven't read the book.....the more reason to see it.


Of mice and men?   November 7, 2004
28 out of 48 found this review helpful

I loved the book but I hated this film. Firstly, I was not convinced of the sincerity of the relationship between Lennie and George, it seemed flat. Secondly, not enough attention was paid to events that foreshadow the story, the opening scene of 'what happened at weed' meant that the idea of the story starting and ending in the same place, and the fate of the watersnake and its significance to the novel as a whole, was completely lost. The presentation of Curley's wife was disappointing as was Crooks. I am trying to think of somewhere the film succeeded but can't. Very disappointing.


Of Mice and Men   January 31, 2006
28 out of 47 found this review helpful

Of mice and men is, in its book form, a novelette. This means that theoretically it should be relatively simple to transform to script. Sinise has amazingly managed to prove that wrong, how I do not know. It seems that Sinise has decided that it required a Hollywood touch, so he transformed what would have been a brilliant cult film into something that fails in both categories. He managed too transform the book from a ‘Lennie’ centred piece of cult, to a weird concept of George and Curley. This means that Lennie is rarely seen during the first half of the film, before being desperately shoved in near the end in an attempt to keep to one concept of the magnificent novelette.
With all the things Sinise has distorted, the pace was the main blunder. He completely messed up; making some essential scenes pass too quickly, and making some unimportant ones take forever and ever.
As for the production, the set seems too grand to be in the great depression era, the same with the costume design. The hairstyles especially, as I suspect that I could go to my local barbers and select that same hairstyle from a glossy. The actors are also too clean and well shaven, for what seems in the book a rough bunch.
I must compliment the set, even though it is rather irrelevant to the set time, as it is designed and used well.
The lighting is simplistic, yet effective. It gave the right kind of atmosphere in the right situation, especially in the final stable scene. The film did have some above average photography.
I think the best performance was that of Candy (Walston). He superiorly confronted losing his dog, and you could see that he really believed in Lennie and George’s farm plan.
Overall I find that Of Mice and Men by Gary Sinise was rather disappointing, from the moment it began: appalling music, a completely contrasting Lennie towards the book, who was also bald (which scared the hell out of me) and old, and spoke in an inaudible tone, making the Lennie I loved in the book, someone I hated in the film. Thus as I was saying, a very disappointing film based on a fantastic novelette.