O

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie
Review: This is a movie for both adults and kids. The director and actors did a good job in making and playing the roles. This is a movie I would suggest everyone see.

Rating:
Summary: It was
Review: I went and saw this movie with my friend and her aunt. We're both 13. I wanted to see it because of Josh Hartnett and Julia Stiles. Watching that movie in front of her aunt was embarassing. I felt almost embarassed walking out of the theatre. That movie was deep, dark, and disturbing. We were both shaking on the ride home.
Besides the fact that it scared the hell out of me, I really liked the movie. Josh Hartnett's acting was wonderful as he played evil Hugo Goulding. Mekhi Phifer's acting was pretty good especially near the end. Julia Stiles was a big disappointment. In many of her other movies, she was a girl with an attitude. In 'O', she sat their like a bug, as if she was just watching everything around her.
I would go see this movie again and I'm glad I saw it

Rating:
Summary: O, a film for the IRON HEARTED
Review: O, a film for the iron hearted.
By Emily Steadman
Have you ever found yourself so angered by characters that you begin to feel sorry for their behavior? Some of the opening lines set an excellent mood for the film. Who is the real star in this film? Martin Sheen (the basketball coach) draws us to this same question by telling Odin that he loves him like a son. This film is a perfect example of a satisfying frustration.
O is the story of a black basketball player in an all white preparatory school, who is weaved between the fingers of a jealous teammate, and finds himself doubting his love for his girlfriend Desi.
The question is, did I enjoy the movie? Well, in a sense you could say yes. Besides taking after a classic Shakespearean play, O was written in such a way that you could relate to each of the characters. The actors had very believable roles, all portraying their characters fluently. However, the flip side to this film is that it was very realistic, very touching and very shocking. I am split down the middle by this movie. One part of me loved it, the other side of me was horrified. This is partly because we are all too familiar with the media swarming over high school violence, like fruit flies attacking a summer picnic. Their point: America scars when it's youth is harmed. But all in all, I give it a THUMBS UP.
I was astounded by the feelings I left the theatre seats with, because the few catchy comedic lines were just enough to keep me from screaming at the tops of my lungs in agony for these characters lives. Hugo (played by Josh Hartnet) is left behind by his friends and his father, because Odin (Makki Pheifer) has become such a hero with his peers, that Hugo is soon forgotten. Desi (portrayed by Julia Stiles) finds herself less trusted by her father because she is dating a black student. Odin is still a hero in everyone's eyes, but is brainwashed into thinking that his life is crashing down all around him. I felt for "O", because the villain is torturing his mind. However, I too felt for Hugo, because he desperately needed love and attention. As I was sitting in the theatre, I felt so torn between these characters, because I realized that this film was such a well-done portrayal of teen life. The only problem was that the writer weaved in the not so innocent parts of teen desires and hatred. Through my tears, I was saying bravo to the writer.
I would recommend this movie to those who understand that O is a rewritten version of Shakespeare's tragedy, "Othello". The movie will not leave you with the smiles and perks that 10 Things I Hate About You gave you, nor will it leave you in mystery about what is going to happen next. The violence and racial issues are also clear to the viewers. O is a movie you go to prepared and secure with issues like school violence. Be prepared to handle the tossed events happening in the media, and the emotions that draw you to kiss your children good night. It's a great one, but remind yourself that crying in a theatre is an O.K. thing to do.

Rating:
Summary: O is an excellent up to date portrayl of Othello
Review: "O"

The movie "O" is an excellent up to date portrayal of Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, which is why I give it two thumbs up! This movie is intended for teenagers and adults alike, mostly due to its illicit context and demand for a higher level of perceptiveness from its audience. The idea of taking the works of Shakespeare, changing the language to fit with today, and making the setting a high school really works well for this movie. If you have already read the play Othello, you will find this movie very intriguing, since you will be able to relate parts of the play to parts that you see in the movie.
The movie "O" is about a young black man, Odin James, who is brought to an all white school for his ability to play basketball. Because all the students, the coach and the dean's daughter Desi love Odin, he becomes the center for neglected Hugo's jealously. Hugo's father, the coach, is so caught up in being there for Odin that along the way he overlooks his own son. Therefore, Hugo in envy plants untrue stories of Desi in Odin's head to make him doubt her faithfulness and send vulnerable Odin in to a hurricane spiraling out of control. This in turn leads to the all so familiar climax of Shakespearean tragedies.
"O" is satisfying from beginning to end with the outstanding actors that have been placed in this film: Josh Hartnett (Hugo), the master of manipulation, does a superb job as the friendly villain; he puts words to the phrase the villain you love to hate. Tim Blake Nelson shows you the relationship between Odin and Desi in depth to make you feel close to them. The way that Julia Stiles (Desi) and Mekhi Phifer (Odin) flow together caused their characters to become so real to me that at the end of the film I was frustrated and in denial that the movie had ended in such a tragic way for the young couple.
Tim Blake Nelson does a great job all around on the direction of this movie. The camera angles will blow your mind-- especially the never-ending circular staircase that I believe foreshadows the twisted thoughts of Hugo.
"O" was written as a portrayal of a Shakespearean play, not in response to the high school shootings in 1998--which got the movies release date postponed to 2001. This movie really opened my eyes to the negligence that is bestowed in today's youth, due to their own selfishness. "O" left an enormous impact, causing me to think about things that normally people try to avoid. The movie really makes you think about the people who surround you, and how they are treated; which leaves the thought in your head-are you treated better than them, and if so what will be the lasting impact that this envy may arise?

Rating:
Summary: A realistic look into "Othello"
Review: The film "O,"based on "Othello"by William Shakespear is very powerful and dramatic film, which keeps you on your toes the entire time. So if you like William Shakespear and tragedies, you will love this film.
The protagonist, Odin James (Mekhi Phifer), is a black basketball player who is stuck in an all-rich, all-white high school, where he is preasured to lead the basketball team to the state chapionship. Along the way he falls in love with the deans daughter and the most popular girl in school, Desi Bramble (julia Stiles). The antagonist Hugo (Josh Hartnett) is neglected by his father, (The basketball coach) and brain washes Odin to belteve that Desi is cheating on him. In this Hugo devlopes a horrible plan to make himself shine.
The director Tim Nelson keeps our attion by constantly moving the cameras in an unusual manner. The director or cinematographer portrayed the basketball senses as if they were a war.I think that is one of the reason why he moved the cameras around so much to make it exciting and to keep your attention. The film was completed in 1998 but because of the reasent high school shotings they repeatedly postponed the release util 2001. As a previous high school student I have learned alot about high school shotings by seeing this movie as well as wanting to read "othello" again. This movie stands out like a sour thumb and makes you think twice about what kind of impression poeple have on you and you on others. That is the responce I got from most of my peers after they saw it. The only thing that I am saying about this movie is that it is very realistic and in the back of your mind you are thinking, "Wow, this could happen in my school," I think that is one of the reasons why I like this movie so much. The realism of the movie is why I think it got postponed. It will defiantly stick in your mind the rest of the day. I would very much recommend you to go see and enjoy this film.

Rating:
Summary: Not as expected
Review: I was so excited to see this movie. I totally adore Julia Stiles and I loved Save the Last Dance. I knew this was a tragedy and all, but I have to tell you that it was not what I expected at all. This one is pretty dark ladies and gentlemen. I would definately watch it, but it upset me so badly I almost cried. It was disturbing. I could have waited a little longer.

Rating:
Summary: "O" amazes
Review: Kaaya's Oscar-worthy script makes Shakespeare's most annoying tragedy believable. In the BBC "Othello" for instance, Desdemona's so irritating it's a relief when she dies! Not so with the strong, determined Desi (Julia Stiles). Though making Desi savvy creates problems with her plot line, Kaaya solves these problems, at least in part, by putting race in-your-face. Aptly, Odin (Mekhi Phifer) and Desi's strongest love scene happens while they're debating "the N word." It's important, I think, that the camera never lets us forget how black Odin is (as films of the play sometimes do) or how racialized envy fuels the plot.

Though all three young lead actors are spectacular, Hugo (Josh Harnett) is literally to die for. It's Hugo's movie, just as it's Iago's play, though Hugo's motives here are more credible than Iago's. Drugs account for character change in an insightful, timely up-dating of the plot, and basketball really works as a substitute for the military. Coach "Duke" (Martin Sheen) is a great re-invention of character.

Tim Blake Nelson's film is one of the few re-imaginings of a Shakespeare tragedy that actually plays as tragic. I saw the film the day it opened and the sound of gunshots was so unsettling that a woman actually jumped from her seat and yelled "Has somebody been hurt?"

Films rarely move me to tears, but I cried at the end of this one--at the VERY problematic end of this one. I'm ambivalent about the way that Hugo's last "message" will be received by the 12-16 age group who in theory won't be seeing this R movie...till it comes out on video.

Do go see "O"--for its compelling characters, it's strong visual statement, and it's honest portrayal of the fragility of black success in an all-white world.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing and smart
Review: I went to see "O" not knowing what to expect. The trailers didn't tell much, and I hadn't read any reviews. I was very surprised with it, considering it hasn't gotten much hype.

"O" is based on Shakespeare's "Othello," and is a terrific modern remake. It is about a teen-age basketball player, Hugo (played by Josh Hartnett) who is overcome with jealousy for fellow teammate Odin (Mekhi Phifer). Hugo is the coach's son, and feels that he doesn't get as good of treatment because of this. He thinks he should have gotten MVP instead of Odin. He devises a plan to bring Odin down, by telling him he heard his girlfriend Desi (Julia Stiles) had been cheating on him. Once the seeds of doubt are planted, Odin becomes more and more violent, escalating to the horrifying climax of the movie.

The thing I liked about this movie the most is that it is different. It isn't like every other "cookie-cutter" movie out in theatres. The acting is wonderful, especially by Julia Stiles. I would defintely check out this movie if you think Hollywood is going down the drain.

Rating:
Summary: great movie and fantastic ending
Review: This movie was way better than i thought it would be. All of the actors did a great job and the director was great building the tension. I must also admit that Josh Hartnett was a perfect villian.Go see it now.

Rating:
Summary: bordering on well done
Review: This updated, stylized, high school version of Othello, is a frightening examination of jealousy and violence. The problem with transferring this Shakesperean tragedy onto and into the lives of high schoolers is that it reads (without prior knowledge of the play, which I'm assuming most of the young people whom this appeals to will not have read) as just another examination of misguided teenage violence devoid of a thesis.

The cinematography is beautiful in places, and our new Othello (O) and Iago (Hugo) are well casted and well acted, but the excellent Julia Stiles (Desi/Desdemona) has nothing to do but look victimized and flat. (As in a flat character not flat chested). The racial tension is forced upon the viewer a little too forcefully; I think the screenwriter could have found more subtle ways to show us the animosities there.

This movie is disturbing and violent. I would recommend discretion in regards to what ages view this film. It's an interesting adaption, but (and I apologize if I come across as a purist) because the violence is so explicit,and in the end, pointless, there isn't a larger frame of reference to put this in for most people, no discussion afterwards like the reading of Othello in a classroom might provide, that I'm forced to wonder what was the point of making this film? Do we really need further depictions of young people slaughtering each other?