Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck's classic novel "Of Mice and Men" gets its third movie treatment, having been filmed previously for the big screen in 1939 (starring Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr.) and for television in 1981 (with Robert Blake and Randy Quaid). (Only the latter version is on video.)

This time out, however, director/producer/star Gary Sinise gives us a more clear-eyed vision of the story of downtrodden George and feeble-minded Lennie, who "travel together." The story is set in California during the Depression, where George (Sinise) and Lennie (John Mal-kovich) take work as farmhands, hoping to be able to stay in one place long enough to raise the money to buy a little place of their own. But Lennie's brute strength, coupled with his childlike curiosity, invariably leads to trouble and, ultimately, tragedy.

The film begins with George pensively, sadly sitting alone in a railway car, the shadows of the car's slats partially covering his face. He's apparently remembering what follows.

George and Lennie are on the run, being chased by a group of men armed with rifles and led by hunting dogs. They manage to escape and hit the road, traveling south until they get to Salinas, where they are hired on at a nearby ranch. Once there, they are looked at askance by the ranch owner, but the other hands welcome them and soon they are just two more of the boys.

Unfortunately, the ranch owner's martinet son Curley (Casey Siemaszko), a spunky punk with a chip on his shoulder, tries to pick a fight with Lennie. George manages to avert a confrontation — for a while — but it is inevitable that Curley will cause trouble. Meanwhile, Curley's wife (Sherilyn Fenn) is lonely and unhappy and tends to hang around the bunkhouse, though she knows it drives Curley into a jealous frenzy.

One day, as George is telling Lennie once more about the ranch they'll own some day, where they'll have a hutch with rabbits that Lennie can tend, they are overheard by old Candy (Ray Walston), who offers to pitch in some money if they'll let him in on the deal.

Unfortunately, their plans will be cut short by fate and Lennie's childish lack of self-control over his great strength.

"Of Mice and Men" is one of the most beloved of John Steinbeck's works, if not necessarily his most critically acclaimed. And it's easy to take the sentimental road, with the role of Lennie offering an opportunity for an actor to go way over the top.