“of Mice and Men” Film Review

“Of Mice and Men” film review

“Of Mice and Men” is a 1992 production by Gary Sinise of the widely acclaimed novel by John Steinbeck. It stars as lead roles Gary Sinise (George), John Malkovich (Lennie). This is the enthralling but tragic story of two best friends George Milton and Lennie Small who travel together and look out for each other during the Great Depression. The film is set in Soledad (California). George is small but quick-witted and has the obligation to look after a slow-minded and mentally defective but very strong man Lennie. His child-like manner often gets him into trouble as he underestimates his strength. After escaping persecution from Weed, they are on the run again to Tyler Ranch . There they meet the one-handed cripples caretaker named Candy (Ray Walston) and his old decrepit dog, the crooked-backed African stable boy, Crooks (Joe Morton), the bad tempered boss' son, Curley (Casey Siemaszko) and Curley's lonely,ignored wife, who remains unnamed (Sherilyn Fenn). Lennie asks George to retell their ultimate dream of owning a farm where Lennie would tend the rabbits. Both of them befriend Candy and long to own that farm together.. Candy's dog being shot foreshadows what will happen to Lennie and the fact that George will have to make a crucial decision. When curley's wife begins flirting with Lennie something terrible happens leading the story to a powerful ending. I have a lot of praise for this outstanding masterpiece. To begin with the tremendous soundtrack, Mark Isham's music haunted us with emotions, but never overdoing it. Even though most of the time there was no music but just the men working and the cicada singing; music was used wisely and faded in and out of the scenes naturally. It played, in my opinion, a huge role as it can determine the mood of a person or a scene . For example, the opening scene where they run for they lives, the music is fast and energetic, but when they are in the train or down by the river, the music (esp. violins) is very slow and melancholic; or mournful when Carlsons' dog is executed. It's, of course the stunning performance of the couple (Lennie and George) that illuminates the film . Malkovich acts absolutely masterfully in the role of the mentally troubled child-like 'monster'. He has managed to portray to perfection the character of a brainless child trapped in a man as strong as an ox. This to such extend that on close ups you could see face expressions characterizing a troubled child. All his acting skills concentrated on gestures and especially how he managed to deal with his handicap. You could feel his frustration, his confusion when Curley started punching; he only got angry when Curley's wife told him to let go. Concerning Sinise he did an exceptional job, playing the loving, nursing and supporting 'brother'. He seemed sometimes completely exhausted but never giving up, to the last bit of his strength he always helped and protected his protégé … this is why the end is so powerful and tragic. Each character is incredibly well acted by a strong supporting cast and each one contributed making the story come to life. I want to give a special recognition to Candy's exceptional performance as a crippled who had no future but who never lost faith when he was given the opportunity to live on a farm with George. Futhermore it' s the power of the Sinise's direction that enhances all that, achieving through the scenery and the camera work a frightening high level of excellence. The visuals of the film alone set the mood and the atmosphere: throughout the film we are plunged into the Depression era agricultural life, dry and hot due to the yellow/brownish dominant colour (sun-splattered corn fields of California). Otherwise it's the little details, adding to the authenticity of the movie, such as the machines in the field, the bunkhouse, the fact they the it's hard to find work, that tells us what Steinbeck wanted to convey to us. As we can see Sinise encloses the story at the beginning and at the ending with the same image of light falling dark inside the train, at first both of them then George alone... The camera is fluid and some angles make you experience the events like the opening scene when the woman ran straight into the camera. I have observed that George's lines are determined and fast, showing he wants to protect Lennie. Lennie's lines are more slow and fragmented, showing his difficulty with speech. Equally stunning is the brilliant script by Horton Foote, who never overlooked vital points and stuck to the original text. ppppppThey and Candy have a ultimate dream to own a farm and Lennie to tend the rabbits. This film is the dramatic story of their efforts to fulfill their dream. This story which Lennie loves to hear is told throughout the film, but they always fall short of their hopes and dream. Steinbeck also portrays the simple truth of life, the outlook of common men like Lennie and George at this time of alienation, loneliness and daily struggle to survive. He illustrates this sad but true picture of the life of the men that no one cares about or notices. One of the sad moments is when Lennie is playing with the puppy, he pets him and squeezes him so much he ends up killing it. His puppy died because he doesn't know his own strength. His juvenile character often gets him into trouble. This is how he will eventually kill Curley's wife and crush Curley's fist. This can be seen as a tragic flaw. Finally what could look like a tragic story hurtles towards its final heartbreaking tragedy, which no one could have seen coming... As George told what was to become Lennie last words ever heard: ," I get to tame the rabbits right George," in a moment of hope, he feels obliged to kill Lennie... When George takes the train to ride far away, we understand how this film is a great essay on loneliness . "But not us, George, because I... see, I got you look after me, but you got me look after you."This is one of the most touching and poignant friendships ever. We can see them almost succeeding to be free men, but fate strikes and neither of them has anything to worry about anymore... and maybe that is what is best. All in all this truly remarkable piece of cinematographic art is an excellent example of how literature can be adapted to the screen without changing the author's message. With powerful achievement of simplicity Sinise wanted to give a true, pure, riveting, powerful, rich yet tragic and oppressive tale of two loyal friends who traveled alone to fulfill their dream...