Unlike the Steinbeck classic, this movie fails at being symbolic of anything, contemporary or ages past. There's a Lennie character that is stupid but likes to steal/kill babies. There's a George, who instead of portraying the loneliness of the "every man" type, is a troubled, seemingly meth addled, murderer. And in this case George and Lennie are brother and sister...and lovers.
Despite the movie's failures at creating a context in which you gain an insight into each individual character's 'man is an island' experience, the individual performances are very good. You get a basic idea of the primal desires that motivate the two main characters, and the actors are very convincing in their rolls. The twist is they're incestuous abuse survivors...as if that explains everything. By the time "George" puts down "Lennie" you're glad it's over.
Despite the movie's failures at creating a context in which you gain an insight into each individual character's 'man is an island' experience, the individual performances are very good. You get a basic idea of the primal desires that motivate the two main characters, and the actors are very convincing in their rolls. The twist is they're incestuous abuse survivors...as if that explains everything. By the time "George" puts down "Lennie" you're glad it's over.