John Steinbeck’s classic story of two friends trying to survive Depression-era California comes to life in this beautiful and stirring film starring John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, and Sherilyn Fenn. Directed by Sinise, this moving drama is a must-see.
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Video Quality
Of Mice and Men returns to Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 which looks to be from a solid older master from MGM. The film was first released on Blu-Ray by Olive Films in 2016, but we do not have a copy to compare. If we were to guess, this probably utilizes the same master. While we would love a new scan in the future, what we are given avoids unacceptable signs of damage and digital manipulation. There are admittedly specks of damage throughout, but we have experienced far worse from some recent MGM catalog titles.
The transfer is decently defined with reasonable clarity when it comes to unveiling details. There is an underlying softness to the picture, but things impress more than they don’t. The picture retains its natural film grain with little in the way of density fluctuations. Colors are warmly saturated with a pleasant vibrancy to them in the field of crops and other touches of nature. Black levels are passable when it comes to depth. Highlights are kept in line without any obvious blooming at play. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are not a major issue. This one is in acceptable shape until MGM chooses to remaster it.
Audio Quality
MGM brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that accomplishes what is asked of it. Dialogue comes through clearly without getting drowned out by the presence of any competing element. The environmental effects allow the farm to feel like a small community, but nothing too complicated is asked of the soundscape. There are odd moments that add some weight to the mix, but it is not a standout in that regard. The fantastic score from Mark Isham grounds the narrative in something emotional. It radiates out with an unbelievable fidelity. MGM has treated the audio well. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on the disc.
Final Thoughts
Of Mice and Men is a classic text that needs to be brought to life with some thought behind it, whether it be stage or screen. Thankfully, Gary Sinise has a deep respect and understanding of the material, and he puts in top effort both in front of and behind the camera. The adaptation is not bombastic or reinventing the wheel, but Sinise captures the heart of the novel on screen. The performers all put in good work, especially Malkovich who has to navigate tricky material. It accomplishes what it sets out to do very well. MGM has brought this film to Blu-Ray with a good A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. If you like the story, this does a fine job of bringing it to the screen. Recommended
Of Mice and Men can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MGM has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
