Of Mice And Men Reviews

#1

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:18pm

First reviews for the Broadway revival of "Of Mice and Men" have been positive, especially for O'Dowd's performance, as well as Franco's performance and Shapiro's directing.

Associated Press is positive: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0f81b3d24e44422db6feb5b187e37a66.html?mod=WSJ_article_RecentColumns_NYAPTopNews

Time Out NY is Positive: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/of-mice-and-men

NBC New York is Positive: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/Review-Mice-and-Men-Franco-255258811.html

Telegraph is positive: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10764638/Of-Mice-and-Men-Longacre-Theatre-Broadway-review.html

USA Today is positive: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2014/04/16/broadway-review-of-mice-and-men/7711475/

The Wrap is positive: http://www.thewrap.com/mice-and-men-james-franco-review

The LA Times spends more time discussing Franco's career than the actual play, but is mixed: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-of-mice-and-men-review-20140417,0,6448706.story#axzz2z5XhSAvi

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2014- Cripple of Inishmaan, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Bullets Over Broadway

Updated On: 4/16/14 at 08:18 PM

#2

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:27pm

Here's the Times review. I'd call it mixed to negative, although I'm never any good at depicting these things.

Most of the reviews seem to echo the neutral performance by Mr. Franco, who, for me, was underwhelming.
I love him, his novels and his movies… but to me he was just… good ol' Mr. Franco with an accent.

And then there's Chris O'Dowd, who is getting the praise he deserves for his incredible, incredible, incredible performance.

Congrats to everyone involved for the overall praise this revival is receiving!

New York Times

Updated On: 4/16/14 at 10:27 PM

#3

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:33pm

Brantley is definitely mixed to negative, and his review matches EXACTLY how I felt as I left the theatre. "Stagnant" was the word I used, "inert" was his word of choice. And that crack he took at Meester... hilarious. I am surprised by the rest of the reviews, honestly. I found the whole thing to be tepid at best.

#4

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:38pm

Television, film, soap opera, art, poetry… Is there anything James Franco can’t do? Broadway perhaps? Find out if Mr. Franco conquers Steinbeck’s classic tale of disillusionment in the American dream as deftly as he’s perfected the art of looking stoned on the big screen in our full review of Of Mice And Men. Our review “Of Mice And Men” at Longacre Theatre starring James Franco and Chris O’Dowd.


Click Here for Full Review of 'Of Mice And Men

Updated On: 4/16/14 at 10:38 PM

#5

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:41pm

Who invites these two to every opening? Hah, just kidding.

#6

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:46pm

So according to Brantley, the best actor in the piece is the dog:

"Though Mr. Franco musters a single, perfect tear for the play’s tragic climax, I only came close to shedding one. That was in the first act, when a dog (a real one) is led offstage to be shot because it stinks. That dog seemed to have true fear and bewilderment in its eyes. It felt, well, human, in a way none of the people did, and my heart sank when I knew it wouldn’t be coming back."

Ouch.

#7

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:40pm

The LA Times review is not mixed. It's uniformly negative.

#8

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:42pm

"Who invites these two to every opening? Hah, just kidding."

I have to imagine they pay, no?

#9

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:43am

Positives

The Hollywood Reporter - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/james-franco-chris-odowd-mice-696787

Variety - http://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/broadway-review-of-mice-and-men-starring-james-franco-chris-odowd-1201158417/

Newsday - http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/of-mice-and-men-review-james-franco-chris-o-dowd-shine-1.7715164

Vulture - http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/theater-review-james-franco-in-of-mice-and-men.html

Entertainment Weekly - http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20807462,00.html

AM New York - http://www.amny.com/entertainment/of-mice-and-men-couldn-t-get-much-better-1.7727002

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/mice-men-theater-review-article-1.1757351

Chicago Tribune - http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-mice-men-broadway-review,0,4292576.column

Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-finkle/first-nighter-franco-odow_b_5163675.html

The Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/of-mice-and-men-longacre-theatre-review-james-franco-excels-in-broadway-debut-9265464.html

Negative

Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/04/16/of-mice-and-tired-men-steinbeck-classic-returns-to-broadway-with-james-franco/

#10

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 5:23am

And none of the reviewers are there at the opening. (Bloggers can go whenever they want.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#11

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 7:37am

hough Mr. Franco musters a single, perfect tear for the play’s tragic climax, I only came close to shedding one. That was in the first act, when a dog (a real one) is led offstage to be shot because it stinks. That dog seemed to have true fear and bewilderment in its eyes. It felt, well, human, in a way none of the people did, and my heart sank when I knew it wouldn’t be coming back

Ummmmmmm...they don't ACTUALLY shoot the dog, right?

#12

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 7:47am

Ummmmmmmmmmmm............. what do YOU think?

#13

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:31am

James Franco was not happy about Ben Brantley's review:

James Franco Calls Times Theater Critic a ‘Little Bitch’ and Suggests He Work for Gawker

#14

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:50am

Ummmmmmm...they don't ACTUALLY shoot the dog, right?

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"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah

#15

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:52am

If most shows use pretend food for dinner scenes to save costs and such, I can't imagine they would source a fresh dog for every show.

#16

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:53am

"Ummmmmmm...they don't ACTUALLY shoot the dog, right?"

Oh.
My.
God.

Best moronic post of 2014. Hands down.

#17

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:58am

"Best moronic post of 2014. Hands down."

You must be pretty confident on this one, to be calling it in April.

#18

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:10pm

Hater, FYI, most shows don't use pretend food unless it's not eaten. If there's a turkey on the table but they never sit down to eat, that's a prop. If they sit and eat during a scene, that's real food although not always what it appears to be. You can craft a ham out of tofu if there are vegans in the cast.

#19

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:16pm

Did you guys know that if there is a baby on stage it's not a real baby? They use a DOLL. Would you believe?!?!?

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"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah

#20

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:26pm

"If they sit and eat during a scene, that's real food although not always what it appears to be. You can craft a ham out of tofu if there are vegans in the cast."

Yes, I understand that. I just didn't think I needed to break down that if they eat it, it isn't pretend food, though.

#21

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:27pm

I love it when almost every other critic likes it and he doesn't.

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Poster Emeritus

#22

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:55pm

Positive

Time - http://time.com/65418/of-mice-and-men-a-raisin-in-the-sun-broadway-review
NY Post - http://nypost.com/2014/04/17/the-mice-is-right-mostly/
Epoch Times - http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/625932-theater-review-of-mice-and-men/
Toronto Star - http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/04/17/with_perfect_casting_of_mice_and_men_remains_shattering_work_of_art_review.html

Negative

North Jersey - http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater/a-steinbeck-classic-lacking-much-drama-1.998216?page=all

#23

Of Mice And Men Reviews

Posted: 4/27/14 at 1:55am

There are more unemployed Americans now than there were when “Of Mice and Men” debuted on Broadway in 1937, making its third-ever production on Broadway something more than just an excuse to debate the performance of the multitalented, multitasking James Franco in his Broadway debut. Some, oddly, seem to dismiss the relevance of John Steinbeck’s work because it’s assigned regularly in high school....
Of Mice and Men Review