I`ve probably read OF MICE AND MEN more times than I`ve read any other novel , not because I like it but because for some reason the book is always used in O` grade ( That`s the elementary standard exam used in British schools and was replaced by the GCSE exam round about 1990 ) English learning . I read it many times at school and had to re read it again when I was a student several years later and so I very quickly learned to hate it , especially the over sentimental aspects .
The problem I have with this version is John Malkovich`s performance . There`s not much wrong with Malkovich as an actor and looking at his resume he`s undoubtedly Hollywood`s most eclectic actor appearing in prestigious productions like THE KILLING FIELDS and EMPIRE OF THE SUN , arthouse flicks like BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and THE SHELTERED SKY and typical Hollywood blockbusters like IN THE LINE OF FIRE and CON AIR , but his performance as Lenny Small is absolutely irritating . He plays the role as if Lenny`s a victim of down syndrome who`s overdosed while mainlining prozac rather than the pathetic idiot of the book . Why can`t actors protraying idiots be subtle ? Producer / actor / director Gary Sinise may be to blame for this but since the scenes not featuring Lenny are at the very least competent I`ll lay all the blame at Malkovich`s door .
Oh and before anyone gets confused I`ll point out the reason John Stienbeck`s novel OF MICE AND MEN is named thus is after a poem by Scottish bard Robert Burns : " The best laid plans of mice and men most often go astray " . It`s got nothing to do with the mouse Lenny holds in the start of the picture
The problem I have with this version is John Malkovich`s performance . There`s not much wrong with Malkovich as an actor and looking at his resume he`s undoubtedly Hollywood`s most eclectic actor appearing in prestigious productions like THE KILLING FIELDS and EMPIRE OF THE SUN , arthouse flicks like BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and THE SHELTERED SKY and typical Hollywood blockbusters like IN THE LINE OF FIRE and CON AIR , but his performance as Lenny Small is absolutely irritating . He plays the role as if Lenny`s a victim of down syndrome who`s overdosed while mainlining prozac rather than the pathetic idiot of the book . Why can`t actors protraying idiots be subtle ? Producer / actor / director Gary Sinise may be to blame for this but since the scenes not featuring Lenny are at the very least competent I`ll lay all the blame at Malkovich`s door .
Oh and before anyone gets confused I`ll point out the reason John Stienbeck`s novel OF MICE AND MEN is named thus is after a poem by Scottish bard Robert Burns : " The best laid plans of mice and men most often go astray " . It`s got nothing to do with the mouse Lenny holds in the start of the picture