Of Mice and Men (1992, PG-13)

Directed by: Gary Sinise

Grade: B—

I really was expecting too much out of Mice and Men.  I was really hoping for a powerful, stirring piece of unforgettable work.  Let us not forget though that author John Steinbeck wrote a novella, scarcely over 100 pages, and not a full-length novel.  This 1992 adaptation feels short and condensed; therefore keeping the valid feel of the novella.  What I watched was not the immensely prevailing motion picture I was hoping for, but instead I was in for a treat about a likeable story of unlikely friendship.

The novella had previously been adapted to the screen by legendary director Lewis Milestone in 1939.  The resulting film was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars but lost to the indispensible epic Gone with the Wind, a film which I hold to be one of the most authoritive works of cinema put to screen.  This 1992 adaptation, directed by Gary Sinise, is practically a remake of the 1939 film.  As of now, I have yet to watch the 1939 version, so I will get to that whenever I can.

I will admit that I was somewhat disappointed in Of Mice and Men, as it never progressed into the sweeping epic it could have been.  I suppose I should say then that I wished Steinbeck’s novella could have been turned into something more because, as a result, the film adaptation would have been something more as well.

That said, this not a piece of work without talent.  The camerawork pulls off some near-incredible cinematography shots that that are almost Oscar-worthy.  Equally convincing is the acting performance delivered by John Malkovich as the mentally-challenged but sweet-natured giant named Lennie, and, to a slightly lesser extent, the acting job done by also director Sinise as Lennie’s friend named George. 

This is a good-natured film that manages to pull off a feel for the Depression era of the 30s.  Life was rough and hard back then, where anyone would be willing to do anything for a half-day’s work. 

Of Mice and Men is an elegant motion picture that did leave some form of impact upon me despite it’s over sentimentality.  I must argue that it certainly wasn’t as ambitious as it could have been made to be, and as a result there is a lot lacking in the plot structure, but it’s still a movie that I’m glad I watched, and I’d be willing to visit it again sometime in the future. 

B—