# Of Mice and Men (1992)

### reviewed by
Brian L. Johnson

                                  OF MICE AND MEN
                           A film review by Ken Johnson
                            Copyright 1993 Ken Johnson

1:59, PG-13, Drama, 1992 Director: Gary Sinise Cast: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Sherilyn Fenn, Ray Walston, Alexis Arquette, Joe Morton, Casey Siemaszko, John Terry, Noble Willingham

Gary Sinise and John Malkovich are migrant farm workers. John Malkovich isn't very bright and keeps getting the two in trouble. Sinise watches over Malkovich and tries to keep him out of trouble. They go to work on Noble Willingham's farm where Malkovich starts having problems with Willingham's son Casey Siemaszko.

OF MICE AND MEN is the third film version of John Steinbeck's novel. I haven't seen the 1939 version yet. I think that this version of OF MICE AND MEN is much better than the 1981 television film (which received a three). This film follows the novel very closely. I definitely recommend this film to everybody. On a scale of zero to five, I give OF MICE AND MEN a five. OF MICE AND MEN is rated PG-13 for explicit language and graphic violence.

The cast for this version is much better than the '81 version. I think that John Malkovich (SHADOWS AND FOG, EMPIRE OF THE SUN) does a much better Lenny than Randy Quaid did. Likewise Gary Sinise does a better George than Robert Blake did. Ray Walston (BLOOD RELATIONS, POPCORN, and for all of you who wrote back on my review of POPCORN, "My Favorite Martian") gave the best performance in this film. Walston plays the old man on the farm and I feel that he adds a lot to the film. Sherilyn Fenn (MERIDIAN: KISS OF THE BEAST, BACKSTREET DREAMS) gives her best performance since TWO MOON JUNCTION as Casey Siemaszko's flirtatious wife. Casey Siemaszko (BREAKING IN, THREE O'CLOCK HIGH) is great as the boss's cruel son.

This film is very well written, and gets extremely dramatic in places (I haven't seen so many wet eyes leaving the theater). I think that this film will have a better impact if you see it in the theater, so do so if you have the chance still. It has been released on video cassette. Both the settings and photography for this film are top notch.

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    Ken Johnson
    blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu

    .

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