Of Mice and Men Film Analysis
Daniel Lancaster
11/21/2012
Of Mice and Men
In the 1992 film adaptation of Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men,” Gary Sinise and John Malkovich work together to create a bond throughout the movie that the audience grows to adore. Sinise and Malkovich had such great connection in this movie due to their role as brothers in a play back in 1980 called “True West.” This connection made the bond between George (Sinise) and Lenny (Malkovich) heartwarming and believable to viewers. Sinise, who was also the director, does a great job in portraying the naturalism in Steinbeck’s novella by creating a strong sense of idealism throughout the movie, while adding the hint of realism to bring the audience back to reality.
The movie opens up with an intense chase scene with George and Lenny running away from their troubles yet again. Lenny, who has special needs, does not understand entirely what he is doing, and is constantly getting himself into a lot of trouble. His companion George, who is rather disgruntled about having to care for Lenny, constantly has to get Lenny out of trouble. George occasionally imagines himself without such a nuisance to care for all the time, and even speaks his thoughts to Lenny a few times. Of course Lenny doesn’t exactly understand what George means and typically just replies “You wouldn’t leave me George, I know that.” After leaving their troubles behind in the previous town, they jump on a train and head for Tyler Ranch. Tyler Ranch is the setting for the movie, and helps develop naturalism through the nature within and around the ranch. Upon entry to the ranch, the first person that George and Lenny meet is Candy. Candy is unlike the rest of the ranchers due to a disability in his hand. The movie never explains what happened to it, but in the book it tells of how it was severed in a threshing machine. Due to his hand, he is not able to do the hard field work, and must instead sweep around the ranch with his loyal companion dog.
11/21/2012
Of Mice and Men
In the 1992 film adaptation of Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men,” Gary Sinise and John Malkovich work together to create a bond throughout the movie that the audience grows to adore. Sinise and Malkovich had such great connection in this movie due to their role as brothers in a play back in 1980 called “True West.” This connection made the bond between George (Sinise) and Lenny (Malkovich) heartwarming and believable to viewers. Sinise, who was also the director, does a great job in portraying the naturalism in Steinbeck’s novella by creating a strong sense of idealism throughout the movie, while adding the hint of realism to bring the audience back to reality.
The movie opens up with an intense chase scene with George and Lenny running away from their troubles yet again. Lenny, who has special needs, does not understand entirely what he is doing, and is constantly getting himself into a lot of trouble. His companion George, who is rather disgruntled about having to care for Lenny, constantly has to get Lenny out of trouble. George occasionally imagines himself without such a nuisance to care for all the time, and even speaks his thoughts to Lenny a few times. Of course Lenny doesn’t exactly understand what George means and typically just replies “You wouldn’t leave me George, I know that.” After leaving their troubles behind in the previous town, they jump on a train and head for Tyler Ranch. Tyler Ranch is the setting for the movie, and helps develop naturalism through the nature within and around the ranch. Upon entry to the ranch, the first person that George and Lenny meet is Candy. Candy is unlike the rest of the ranchers due to a disability in his hand. The movie never explains what happened to it, but in the book it tells of how it was severed in a threshing machine. Due to his hand, he is not able to do the hard field work, and must instead sweep around the ranch with his loyal companion dog.