Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck's novella is very successful; you could say it's fabulous, so I didn’t envy Sinise for taking on a film that would struggle to compete with its literary counterpart. However, the film may even be better than its paper competitor. First, I must emphasize that if it weren’t for John Malkovich in the role of Lennie, the film would likely fade into mediocrity and wouldn’t have such high ratings. I’m amazed at how brilliantly he played the role (he matched my mental image from the book). It surprises me even more that he didn’t at least receive an Oscar nomination for it. Gary Sinise also did well, but Malkovich carried the film, you could say, by himself. The atmosphere of the 1930s was captured perfectly, and the great music only underscored it. From the beginning, it was clear that this film wouldn’t end with the typical American "happy ending," but would instead turn into a disaster. Although I knew how it would all end, and therefore shouldn’t be moved, it’s different to read it in the book and then see it translated to the screen. It’s an emotional film in every sense, with Malkovich reigning supreme. I definitely recommend it to everyone, and I give it 91%. (2017-02-26)

The next time someone tells you they only know Malkovich from Being John Malkovich, stuff their mouth shut with this movie. Of Mice and Men had been evading me for quite some time now, but my colleague forced me to finally watch it and I don’t have a single thing against it. Of Mice and Men is an absolutely incredible trove of human emotions within each and every one of us. It’s about all of us and it has about every kind of human being in it. It’s all incorporated into a simple but all the stronger story that only life could write. And John Malkovich? You won’t forget about him ever again. (2015-07-10)

It is important to bear in mind that Gary Sinise is a very sensitive person. He brilliantly portrays the subtle but very strong relationship between the two men and cleverly wrapped it in the harsh times after the financial crash, when, for every rich person, there were thousands of poor people in the rough American countryside and small towns, and the fights for low-quality jobs were truly unprecedented. Despite the fact that the film is very well made and with a strong social message, it is a very simple outline about a poor man with a good heart. The performance is brilliant, it captures the heart, but that is also the only thing they relied on. Honest? Yes. So honest that most viewers don't even realise that Sinise played it safe... (2008-05-17)

Perhaps the most faithful adaptation imaginable of the famous novel, making the most of the excellent cast. Both the weak-minded Lennie, played by John Malkovich, and his humane protector, Gary Sinise, are almost iconic movie characters, and although the story moves slowly for a long time without significant dramatic twists, they and Steinbeck's timeless ideas make it more than enjoyable to watch. The film could have been a little shorter and punchier, but then again, we wouldn’t have all the period atmosphere, the racial tension, and the sincerity and believability in the work with the protagonists. In a nutshell: a great adaptation. 85% (2013-07-28)