Rent Of Mice and Men (1992)

They Shoot Horses - Of Mice and Men review by Steve

While this is scrupulously faithful to the narrative of of John Steinbeck's classroom classic, its main weakness is to promote tastefulness ahead of the political content. There is far less socialism here than the still definitive 1939 version. But there is gorgeous colour photography shot in beautiful rural locations.

And Mark Isham's musical score takes authentic Americana and grinds it into down into muzak. The golden sunlight is heartbreakingly lovely and the period look is impressive, but you could show this to a roomful of schoolkids and probably have to field few inquiries about the misery of the rural poor in the depression.

Gary Sinise (also director/producer) as George yields the spotlight to John Malkovich's Lenny, the brain damaged giant who loves like a child, without understanding or limits. In their ill-fated nomadic quest for work and dignity, the eternal duo leave a trail of mayhem across the farmland of '30s California.

Ray Walston stands out in the support cast as a disabled odd jobber who feels the ominous encroachment of old age in a time of unregulated capitalism. The themes will always matter but this production seems much more motivated by period authenticity and the opportunity to portray a pair of literary legends.