A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s tragic “Othello” plays out on the grounds of a picturesque Southern prep school and maintains the inherent themes of betrayal, jealousy and obsession.
Worshipped by his girlfriend, Desi (Julia Stiles), and idolized by his basketball coach (Martin Sheen), Odin James (Mekhi Phifer) holds the world in his palm. The envious Hugo (Josh Hartnett), Odin’ teammate and the coach’s neglected son, wants a slice of O’s pie, so he manipulates an outsider (Elden Henson) into tearing the man’s life down. The seed of jealousy is planted in Odin’s mind, a weed that drags the hoops star down a descending path of self-destruction.The film’s simple title, “O,” refers to several things – most notable the vicious cycle of despair and envy Hugo finds himself in. It also alludes to director Tim Blake Nelson’s tight, circular handling of the compelling material. Crucial events pack cataclysmic consequences, and Nelson – an accomplished actor – delivers it all in a nice, neat (though tragic) package.Hartnett, Stiles and especially Phifer gracefully tackle Brad Kaaya’s forceful screenplay, bringing the perfect balance of respect and street-cred charm needed to introduce Shakespeare to the “TRL” crowd. In fact, save for the doom and gloom, few would mistake this material for the Bard. Nice transition to the mainstream, and a solid effort overall.Grade: B+THE EXTRASMGM throws considerable weight behind “O,” a film that got little attention during its theatrical run. Good, because this fantastic film deserves a closer look. The 2-disc set begins with a director’s commentary, as well as two versions of the film (widescreen and full-frame).On disc two, the “O” DVD contains the entire 1922 version of “Othello,” a 109-minute feature starring Emil Jannings. The quality is poor, but the unique factor of including it on the disc makes up for it. Director Nelson appears again on disc two, introducing four deleted scenes. The cast and crew also contribute a series of interviews about the filmmaking process and the feature, “O.”Finally, Nelson provides an in-depth analysis of the film’s three basketball sequences. As the scenes unspool, Nelson and the director of photography Russell Lee Fine talk over it. Interesting stuff.Grade: B+OVERALL EXPERIENCESJoins Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” as living proof that Shakespeare’s works can appeal to teens of all ages when handled properly by brilliant filmmakers and a talented cast.By Sean O’ConnellMarch 5, 2002