Rating: 
Summary: will people see this as a positive message?
Review: It is clearly understandable why they put this film off. It was originally going to be released 2(?) years ago, but with the school shooting in Littleton CO, they decided to put it on hold.The movie is slow going but with a message. I'm not certain though, that the message made it through the movie because at the end of the movie, the kid still wanted to and was looking to fly as high and with the other students. Does that mean that doing and planning what he did, he succeeded or he plans to achieve it because of it? I'm not sure or clear on that. Hopefully people will get the message that by doing something like this...it doesn't solve anything. And I'm hoping that with the start of school and if kids choose to see this movie that they would get the positive "let's not resort to that" manner than the "that gives me ideals". The young actors and actresses in the film did a fine job. And I thought they portrayed the situation well.
Rating: 
Summary: Bravo! "O" is a powerful Retelling of A Timeless Tragedy
Review: I had the good fortune to see "O" in New York City at the
UrbanWorld Film Festival earlier in the summer. The audience
sent up a rousing ovation of "bravos" at the conclusion of
this stunning and powerful cinematic achievement - the best
updating of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy "Othello" that I
have experienced. As a retired professor of history and a
devotee of drama and literature, I was mesmerized by Tim Blake Nelson's masterful reworking of a great classic as a contemporary
tale of betrayal, ambition, ill-starred love, jealousy, revenge, and heartbreaking denouement in the setting of an American
secondary school. It achieves a level of emotional depth and
power rare in Hollywood movies. The cast features three
popular and gifted young actors who give performances of
transcendent dramatic range and persuasion. I predict that
"O" will be a smash hit and will reinforce the relevance of
Shakespeare's writings and insights into the universal human
condition for old and new generations of moviegoers.
Rating:
Summary: W"O"W!
Review: I just saw an advanced screening of this film, and it is so amazing. The adaptation of the play is a truly thoughful story, and The actors come through brilliantly! There is so much emotion behind all of the betrayals, and it is quite surprising as well. Cheers to Mekhi Pheifer and Josh Hartnett, who mostly before have been seen as happy, good charachters. But this is also a very intense tragedy. It leaves a heavy impact.
Rating:
Summary: +1/2 stars... Well Worth the Wait
Review: I'm sure you've all heard the story -- completed in 1998, this movie's release was delayed due to the Columbine massacre, than again due to the San Diego school shooting earlier this year. Well, it was certainly worth the wait. Tim Blake Nelson's clever, modernized adaptation of Othello is a bit heavy at times, but extremely gripping and believable. The acting is excellent all across, but I was especially impressed with Josh Hartnett who proves (to me, anyways) that he's more than just another pretty face with a set of pouty lips.
Rating:
Summary: Julia Stiles, Julia Stiles, Julia Stiles, Julia Stiles
Review: This movie isn't out until August, but as long as it has Julia Stiles in it it is outstanding. She has impressed me as an actress that is making quite a mark in Hollywood. Her presence lights up the screen everytime and keeps your attention as long as your watching. "O" is a remake of "Othello" of course. With the teen age cast and the Shakespear's timeless story, this movie could be as big as "Save the Last Dance." STLD got 90+ million at the box office and "O" looks to pass it. Anyway I highly advise that you check out the few other movies that Ms. Stiles has done, you will be impressed.
Rating:
Summary: An insightful retelling of Shakespeare's "Othello."
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: An insightful retelling of Shakespeare's "Othello."
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Poetic and disturbing...
Review: "O" is a brilliantly portrayed update to the classic play "Othello" written by Shakespeare. This movie will make your skin crawl because it can be so chilling. The music at the beginning and ending of the movie both make you feel kind of anxious. The whole story revolves around three central characters, Hugo (Josh Hartnett), Odin or "O" (Mehki Pfeifer), and Desi (Julia Stiles). Hugo is the self-involved son of the high school's basketball coach. He wants everyone to love him and shower him with the attention that they give to "O". "O" is the high school basketball team's star player and is the coach's favorite on and off the court. Desi is the girlfriend of "O" and the headmaster's daughter. Hugo is jealous that "O" has the perfect life, and doesn't even act like he really cares. Hugo tries desperately hard to ruin "O"'s life and finally comes up with a scheme to do such a thing--he must ruin the relationship of Desi and "O". In order to do this, he not only ruins their love lives, but the lives of those around him...and eventually causes the controversial school shooting scenes. Personally, I don't like violence, but the killings in this are done (in some of the cases) rather poetically. This movie can make you question the consequences of your actions. I'd recommend you check it out.
Rating:
Summary: great cast
Review: This movie is the best remade, Shakespeare movie I think I've ever seen. It doesn't have Shakespeare's script, but it is based on the play very well, except that it is modrenized. Odin, which is the character based on Othello, is played by Mekhi Phifer, and did an excellant job protraying him, is a star basketball player, at his all-white school. Julia Stiles, (Save The Last Dance,) plays his girlfriend Desi. Hugo, who is played by Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor,) does a wondeful job of playing everyones friend, and making Odin jealous, becuase he makes Odin think that Desi is cheating on him with his best friend Mike, who is played by Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate ABout You / 7th Heaven,) which starts this whole plan to get revenage on Mike and Desi. Very tragic ending, and very well written.
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.
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