O (2001)

When you compare O to William Shakespeare's Othello, you'll realize just how well this modern adaptation really works. Shakespeare's tragedy transfers nicely to the film's contemporary private school setting, where Othello is now Odin (Mekhi Phifer), star of the basketball team and the school's only African American student. Desdemona is Desi (Julia Stiles), the dean's daughter and Odin's girlfriend, and Iago is Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's steroid-shooting son, who jealously plants seeds of doubt that fester in Odin's mind, leading them all to a tragically violent fate. As directed by Tim Blake Nelson (who played the dimwit Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?), this is a clever and serious interpretation of Shakespeare that, sadly, was shelved for two years when its distributor balked at potential comparisons to the Columbine massacre. Such fears were pointless; this well-acted film delivers an anti-violence message that younger viewers will readily appreciate. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

high school basketball "othello"

The play Othello is rest in modern times with the high school "prep" star "Odin" as Othello. His teammate and the coach's son has the Iago role of a scheming and evil "friend". He turns the main characters against each other
by "playing" them with lies and using a stolen handkerchief his girl friend obtains. The movie like the play was hard for me to watch. Half way through I realized it was Othello in modern drag and it became easier, since I knew it was a love gone wrong tragedy. The Shakespeare play has dialog by Iago that makes his motivations clearer than the nice bright high school boy gone wrong in this movie. The movie has basketball, drugs and guns added, but results are pretty much the same.
The acting is pretty good actually, but intense introspective
dialog that should be there seems left out to me.
the results are pretty much the same
July 31, 2008

Hawking around.

O starring Mekhi Phifer is a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragic play, Othello. Phifer is superb in the title role, his perfromance is heartbreaking and intense. Julia Stiles is also quite good in this, she plays Desi, O's girlfriend. Josh Hartnett and Andrew Keegan aren't talented actors but their roles are highly important to this story. I like this film, highly under-rated. Check it out sometime! July 29, 2008

A Disturbing Portrait of Deception and Jealousy Among Teenagers

Shakespeare's "Othello" has undergone many adaptions. Perhaps this fact is due to the timelessness of the themes which transcend all centuries; jealousy, deception, and betrayal. Shakespeare had a knack for exploring relevant themes. "O" is a modern-day adaptation of the best of The Bard's plays.
Set in a private school, "O" revolves around the school's basketball team. Odin is the star player, much to the anger of the coach's son, manipulative and unscrupulous Hugo. The story also focuses on Odin's love for Desi, the Dean's daughter. Hugo will use his supposed friendship with Odin to plant seeds of doubt regarding Dessi's fidelity.
This movie is unforgettable. It is very disturbing when one realizes how young the characters are supposed to be, which proves that no matter what the age, young individuals have to wrestle with their baser instincts just like everyone else.
All of the performers are exceptional. Mekhi Phifer is unsurpassable as Odin, showing his pain and anger in a totally sympathetic manner. Julia Stiles is not the best performer in this movie, but she does fairly well as Dessi. Rain Phoenix, (I hope this is the right actress!) is wonderful as Emily, Hugo's girlfriend and ultimately his tool. She, like Emilia in the original "Othello," is very smart and realizes what is going on. Josh Hartnett is wonderful as Hugo, and even shows a human vulnerability to an otherwise despicable and irredeemable character. His "love" sceen with Emily is very frightening as he exhibits his ultimate control.
This adaptation provides a commentary on the absence of adults in these teenagers' lives. For instance, Hugo acts the way he does in order to receive attention, which he does not receive from his aloof father.
This movie will remain with you after the final credits have disappeared. I was thoroughly impressed with how closely the director stayed with the original play. Even snatches of Shakespeare's dialog is reworked into modern language without robbing them of their original meanings: "Iago: How poor are they that have no patience. What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Hugo: Why is it you rich kids don't have any patience? Good plans take time to work" (Hugo's lines are slightly paraphrased because of some profanity).
I would recommend watching this movie in conjunction with the reading of the original play. Also try the modern adaptation by Andrew Davies, starring Emmann Walker and Christopher Eckleston. This British adaption, although taking many liberties with the plot of the original play, nevertheless examines the universal themes in an unforgettable manner. March 31, 2008

Over-Age Cast Trying to Play Teenagers

The principal actors are way too old to be credible as teenagers. So why place the story in a prep school setting? It's fiction, so it could have been easily placed in a college setting to make this cast credible if they were really set on hiring this cast. Or they could have hired younger actors to credibly play teenagers. The mis-match of actors and roles is a distraction. September 17, 2007

Bought it for my class but can't show it.

I thought about teaching it as a modern interpretation of Othello, but there's this long, uncomfortable, sex scene that turns into a borderline rape scene in the middle of it. I'm sure some think it's profound, but frankly, it's pretty heavy handed. I'm teaching at the college level so *can* show it, but it's uncomfortable enough that I don't. Well performed, but aside from that, it relies on and perpetuates stereotypes of black sexuality, violence, drug use, etc. much more than the original without anywhere near the character development that makes the original interesting. From a pedagogical standpoint, I can use it as an excuse for a discussion on constructions of minoritized identity, which is fine and dandy, but then it's not doing its job as a companion piece for Othello to help them deepen their knowledge, except in the most superficial ways. If I wanted to do that, I could assign the old black-face Orson Wells version. As well, I'd rather just assign some James Baldwin if I wanted to discuss constructions of minoritized identity.

As a film, it's a good way to waste an evening. I'd suggest renting it, though I did buy it because I'm also a Mekhi Phifer fan. His acting in the role is much better than the material he is given. June 26, 2007

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