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 Of Mice & Men is the story of two drifters during the Depression Era. George (Sinse) and Lenny (Malkovich) travel through California seeking work as ranch hands. George is very protective of the mentally challenged Lenny, who is incredibly strong and bigger than everyone, but is actually just a gentle giant.
Of Mice and Men (1992)
Starring: Gary Sinise, John Malkovich
Director: Gary Sinise
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Reviewed by Ruth Ferguson
MGM's 1992 Of Mice & Men is the second movie adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel of the same title. Gary Sinise not only directs, but co-stars with John Malkovich, with a screenplay written by the legendary Horton Foote (screenwriter for To Kill A Mockingbird and A Trip to Bountiful.)
To refresh your high school literature memory, Of Mice & Men is the story of two drifters during the Depression Era. George (Sinise) and Lenny (Malkovich) travel through California seeking work as ranch hands. George is very protective of the mentally challenged Lenny, who is incredibly strong and bigger than everyone, but is actually just a gentle giant. The two dream of someday having their own ranch, where no one will be able to fire them and Lenny will be able to raise rabbits. George often entertains Lenny by telling him of how life will be on their land, and reminding him that they are not like the other drifters because they have each other.
Throughout the film people confide in Lenny, perhaps it is because they think he is crazy so there is no harm in telling their darkest secrets to him. The common theme of the secrets Crooks (Joe Morton) and Curly's Wife (Sherilyn Fenn) share with Lenny is about their deep loneliness.
The first side of the disc includes Sinise's commentary track and the theatrical trailer for the film. Flip the disc over for the standard making of featurette, make-up tests, Sherilyn Fenn's screen test, deleted scenes with optional commentary by Sinise, and MGM trailers.
But the most interesting extra is A Conversation Between Gary Sinse and Horton Foote - Ten years later the two talk reminisce about the film. They share their mutual dislike of the 1939 movie version of the book and Foote mentions several times he did not like the recent stage adaptation, Sinse and Foote felt Steinbeck vilified Curly's wife unfairly, so they discuss how they tried to make her more sympatric. Foote shares his memory of his one meeting with the legendary John Steinbeck.
Smart high school English teachers might think about adding it to their library. Of Mice & Men is a wonderful film that surprisingly received no Oscar nominations; it is also surprising that Sinise has not directed a film during the last decade.
For more information visit: <
Of Mice and Men
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