O (2001)

This movie is one of the worst I have ever seen. I consider it a waste of money and time. The story itself had really little point, and the 10 minute sex-scene made it a stomach turning, revolting nightmare. I suggest to anyone that is considering seeing this, to spend their money elsewhere--a spare toilet seat would be more useful.

Fmovies: A little advice to the director, STOP WITH THE SOAP OPERA!!! I know that Shakespeare stories are very sad and depressing but for God's sake! It was so over dramatic. You don't feel for the characters. You think that two of the main characters are asses. And you think that the girl is very insincere. The ending isn't sad, because (I hate to say this about Josh Hartnett, sorry Josh!) but BAD ACTING!!! Even though I'm a fan of Josh Hartnett and saw this movie because he was in it, I just thought this was a bad pick. And maybe O should of concentrated on getting things straight with his girl then getting even. Especially when he hasn't asked other friends and seeing if she was cheating or suspected of it. So, I believe that Shakespeare is not going to be proud. Good luck to Mekhi, Josh, and Julia. Because I know you could do better.

4/10

O was a good teen film that comes out fast and ends up out in excitement. The story is about a frustrated teen (Josh Hartnett) who plays basketball with a star athlete,O (Mehki Phieffer) who's got everything, his entering in college basketball and the most popular girl in highschool, starts a plan to ruin O's life. Everything suddenly starts happening bad for O's life and everything then crumbles. The movie was very fascinating and everything in the film didn't make you bored because everything was stimulating and fast paced. There was some flaws in acting but it was still alright. The film is good and I highly recommend it.

Hedeen's outlook: 8/10 *** B

O fmovies. Tim Blake Nelson trying his hand at directing decided to tackle a classic Shakespeare play, "Othello". With the help of his adapter, Brad Kaaya, they transferred Venice to South Carolina with mixed results. Mr. Nelson, being an actor himself, got great readings from his mostly young cast.

Bringing Shakespeare to locations other than where the plays were set, presents an unusual challenge for whoever undertakes the risk. In this case, the action occurs in a small prep school in South Carolina where the emphasis is thrown to the basketball team and its star.

Odin James, the role based on Othello, the Moor of Venice, is the main attraction at the basket ball court. Odin, who is black has fallen in love with Desi, or Desdemona, the fair young woman who loves him in return. When Odin selects Michael to be his right hand man at the court, Hugo, the envious son of Coach Goulding, resents being bypassed and begins to plot what to do to get back at O.

The film follows the machinations of Hugo who succeeds in creating a doubt in O by poisoning his mind with tales of deceit and betrayal from both Michael and Desi. That makes Hugo scheme a plan to get rid of his rival, but he can't see what his lies have done to O's soul and the ultimate tragedy this careless young man will bring to his family and to the school.

Mikhi Phifer is good as the tormented Odin, the star of the game who is going to go far because of his natural talent for the game. Julia Stiles, an intelligent presence in anything she does, is effective as the young Desi, whose only fault is having fallen in love with Odin. Josh Harnett, on the other hand, seems to be miscast as Hugo, who is the Iago of the real play. Andrew Keegan is good as Michael. Martin Sheen, John Heard, Rain Phoenix and Elden Henson, are the most prominent figures in the cast.

Tim Blake Nelson shows an affinity for directing. Maybe his new projects will give him an opportunity in which to shine better.

The high point of "O" is that its probably the best "modern" adaptation of Shakespeare to date. However, given competition such as "10 Things I Hate About You", its not much of a compliment. Baz Luhrman's "Romeo and Juliet" was a wonderfully artistic movie, but keeping the original dialogue, a risky premise from the outset in a modern background, harmed the flow of the movie, making it seem incongruous. "O" gets it right, adapting modern language to emphatically convey emotion. For those who haven't picked up on it by now, "O" is a modernization of Shakespeare's "Othello".

O is Odin James(Mekhai Phifer), the protagonist, whose good intentions and tragic flaws work against him when provoked. James' fame comes from his incredible prowess on the basketball court. Odin is a knockout NBA prospect and the center of attention wherever he goes, and seems to have everything, including the dean's daughter as his girlfriend, Desi(Julia Stiles). The glory bestowed upon Odin draws ferocious envy one of his friends, Hugo(Josh Hartnett), who plots a scheme playing on Odin's jealous nature to break Odin and Desi up and, in the process, give him some sense of satisfaction. The story that ensues is stellar (naturally, as it is based off of one of Shakespeare's best works). But, as "Othello" is a tragedy, "O" can only come to a tragic end...

I felt the emotional prescence in this movie much more than I expected to, much more than I would have had had the movie toned its violence and sexual imagery down to snag a more desirable PG-13 rating. Phifer is very convincing in his role as Odin, especially in the dunk contest and the sex scene with Julia Stiles, breathing a murderous rage into a character tragically bound to demise despite his better efforts and honesty. His presence drives the movie, his raging jealousy a brash contrast with Hugo's cool and ruthless methods of deception.

I was very pleased that the issue of race wasn't expounded upon in the movie (as I expecting when I saw the first preview). It holds true to Shakespeare's original intention, which pictures Othello as a "Moor", a person with a strange fasion of dress and appearance. I don't believe Shakespeare meant to make an issue or a statement on race in Othello, and, despite what I'm sure was a juicy temptation, the writers hold true to this, except for one comment Odin makes, which makes sense. To ignore the issue would be foolish if making a true modernization of the play, but it never becomes a main focus of the film. The only thing I would change is to not make Hugo such a sympathetic character. Iago (Hugo's counterpart in "Othello") was an insanely evil character, with little reason to feel a bit of pity or sympathy for his deeds and his motives. Hugo's father clearly neglects his own son's well-being in deferrence to Odin, an important plot element in "O" that is absent from "Othello", making Hugo much more pitious than Iago. Also, some of the scenes felt a bit rushed. Other than this, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who can handle it; some of the scenes are very intense. I gave it an 8 out of 10.

Many have commented on what a remarkable performance the young actors give in this riveting movie. I would like to add that it is stunning how closely the director follows the original Othello. Except for updating the language a bit and moving the action to a South Carolina prep school, the story is virtually unchanged. Even some of the dialog mimics the original. Take special note of what Hugo and Odin say as the movie's climax progresses: It is nearly identical to what Shakespeare wrote.

It's such a great introduction to the Bard that I'm using "O" in my humanities class.