O (2012)

"O" sets the tragedy of "Othello" in a modern high school where Odin James, the only black kid in a high school full of rich white kids, has been brought to the school for his skill on the basketball court. He is about to lead his team through the playoffs, and he has recently won the love of a dean's daughter, Desi. However, the coach's angry son Hugo is also on the team. Neglected by his father and overshadowed by Odin, Hugo forms a vicious plan, resulting in a bloody and all too familiar disaster.



The filmmakers pull no punches and opt for a fairly straight adaptation, doing an admirable job of staying true to the Shakespeare's plot and characters while avoiding his language in favor of an entirely original script. Though rap music, guns, drugs, cars, and the basketball court do figure into the story, these modern trappings never overshadow the human drama. Director Tim Blake Nelson lets his camera tell the story in a refreshingly simple manner, refusing the typical gimmickry of modern cinema; and a very solid cast carries the story well. Josh Hartnett as Hugo is perhaps the most outstanding--his angsty Ivy League face, reminiscent of Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, always captures the bitter essence of his character.



Though the film was completed in 1998, the release of "0" was repeatedly delayed due to the rash of high school shootings in the late 1990s. While it is understandable that such incidents of youth violence should make film studios cautious, this is one film which stands apart with a mature and timeless message about hate and the seeds of tragedy.

Never having seen or read William Shakespeare's play "Othello," I was unsure what to expect from "O," a film that begins somewhat slowly, and then kicks into a higher gear as the plot thickens. This modern update of the classic play pays a great tribute to the work of Shakespeare, while also featuring some very well-wrought performances and a third act that is disturbing and affecting at the same time.

Taking place in Charleston, South Carolina, at the high-class Palmetto Grove prep school, the film begins with a basketball game as Odin James (Mekhi Phifer), brings the team to yet another victory, while the wildly jealous Hugo (Josh Hartnett) looks on from the sidelines. Odin's fame among his teammates and fellow students, not to mention his stable relationship with Desi Brable (Julia Stiles), the daughter of the school's headmaster, enrages Hugo, who keeps his cool and concocts a plan of earning Odin's fame for himself.

At this point, the actors have proved themselves very worthy of the film's many complex emotions. Phifer is also able to convince us of Odin's inner strength and sense of devotion to Desi, and Stiles mirrors these attributes in her character. The two share a warm and inviting chemistry seen little in films of a teenage nature; this is due in large part to the time the movie devotes to the developing of their relationship. This drawn-out approach may seem a bit tedious, but it serves to better the film by enhancing our connection with these two characters.

It is Josh Hartnett, however, who steals most of the show as Hugo, instilling in him a subtle sense of deception that can be quite chilling. Hartnett handles the material just as it needs to be, in a calm, laid-back fashion. Hugo is the type of person who steps on those around him to get where he wants to be, and for this to work, he must show no emotion over the actions he takes; Hartnett captures this trait beautifully.

As Hugo's jealousy grows, so do his evil plans. He involves many others in his quest for revenge; when fellow teammate Michael is temporarily kicked off the team, Hugo offers a glimmer of hope by suggesting that he get Desi to convince Odin to suggest to the coach that he be reinstated. Hugo then plays on Odin's doubts, filling him with suggestions that Desi may be sharing more than just friendship with Michael.

This begins an increasingly fascinating descent into untruths, deceit, and evil, as each character becomes involved in a final plot twist that will decide each of their fates. This, accompanied by the slowly progressing beginning and middle, make this one of the best Shakespeare reworkings I've seen to date. Everything about the film rings true to his work, right down to the dialogue, which, even in its modern state, evokes the tones and emotions that his original writings also do.

That final act is what almost kept the film from reaching the silver screen. Filmed before the Columbine High School disaster, the film was shelved for fear that it would create a stir after that most brutal act. Seeing it now makes it that much more effective; it takes teenage issues, like jealousy, loyalty, betrayal, trust, and love, and casts them into a light that no other film would dare touch. The violence that permeates the film's ending is gratuitous, yes, but it also serves as a warning sign of just how out of control our society can be.

"O" can be considered an unconventional teenage film, due to its daring approach, and its success in carrying out that approach in a convincing manner. Its lead actors are able to sell us on the characters they play, while the story itself stays in touch with the many messages embodied in all of Shakespeare's works. At first, I found the film somewhat tiresome; upon further thought, it gains luster.

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"O" is a film directed by Tim Blake Nelson which is based on the William Shakspeare play, "Othello". Set in a modern-day high school setting, this film is about Odin James (Mekhi Phifer I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER), the only black kid in a high school full of white rich students. He was accepted into the school to help the basketball team with his basketball skills. He ends up winning over the dean's daughter, Desi Brable (Julia Stiles SAVE THE LAST DANCE). Then the coach's son, Hugo Goulding (Josh Harttnet PEARL HARBOR), becomes jealous of Odin because he used to be the star of the basketball team and get all the attention from his father until Odin showed up. Now Hugo comes up with an evil, bloody plan for revenge that will shock the school with tragedy.

This film was completed in 1998. But due to the recent high school shooting masscarre, it kept getting delayed. But it was definitely worth the wait! Beautifully filmed, gifted, talented young actors, and an original, cleavor script, this will be an excellent adaptation of the play, "Othello". (And hey, when you ask for tickets at the theaters it won't even be a very difficult name to pronounce!) It will probably be a major box-office hit, too. I definitely recommend this drama to anybody! Go see it August 31st (I know I will eventually see it in the theaters), and I know you will not regret it.

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Those who are familiar with the play Othello will have no trouble guessing what happens in this dark tale of jealously and desire. How it happens, though, is a completely different story, and it is interesting to see how this timeless classic plays itself out.

O is an excellent (albeit haunting) rendition of the Shakespeare play, with Mekhi Pheiffer in the title role as the stellar athlete Odin (Othello) who finds himself the only black student at an elite boarding school. Josh Hartnett is Hugo (Iago), the jealous, brooding teammate who tries to steal Odin's fire. Julia Styles is Desi (Desdemona), and the rest of the cast does an excellent job of rounding this trio out.

There were two things about this movie which are of some importance. The scarf, for one (which also appears in the play). It seems to take on a life of its own, as Odin becomes more and more outraged at the idea that Desi might be cheating on him with his teammate Mike, the passion becoming so consuming that he can't control himself. The other was the hawk, the school mascot. Hugo compares himself and Odin repeatedly to the hawkhow the hawk has to soar and be independent.

The movie does an excellent job of transposing Shakespeare's ideas to the big screen and into modern language. Take, for example, the scene in which Hugo tries to plant seeds of doubt in Odin's mind about his girlfriend's fidelity. Here, the schene takes place in a weight room, and Josh Harnett, in that kind of sexy, seductive way he has, is wonderfully sly and manipulative. In this he does a far better job than Kenneth Branaugh did in the 1995 film.

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As someone who has read and watched Othello many times on stage, I thought this modern take on Shakespeare's most relevent-for-today tragedy was a great example of how Shakespeare can truly translate into the problems of our day: racism, bi-racial sterotypes and fears, jealousy, class, race, etc. The acting was superb, as always, Julie Stiles glows in every role she plays. However, at times I couldn't help but feel as if the movie was either trying too hard to follow the exact plot of Othello, or was confused along the way and added other events and scenes to cover what they lost. But overwall, not a bad modern version of Othello (near the end was well-acted and quite bone chilling...). But it's not really worth buying, probably best to rent this one.

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