An exceptionally intelligent and powerful contemporary adaptation of Othello.
Comment
08/30/01
O (2001)
63
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:123
Fresh:78
Rotten:45
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: Though well-intentioned and serious in its exploration of teen violence, O is an uneven experiment that doesn't quite succeed.
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: A contemporary retelling of Othello, Shakespeare's timeless tale of treachery and jealousy, O will perhaps introduce a new audience to the genius of William Shakespeare and some of his most... [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, John Heard
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Reviews for O
A potent and thoughtful film.
08/30/01
This version of Othello speaks eloquently and directly to contemporary audiences, rendering Shakespeare relevant and fresh.
08/30/01
While Hartnett's plan comes to fruition a little too easily, the young cast surprisingly squeezes every drop of the age-old tension out of this sinister game of exes and Os.
08/30/01
Top CriticAn abject lesson in just how far you can't go to make Shakespeare contemporary and relevant for teen-agers.
08/30/01
The pathological envy, racism, fear and jealousy that drive Shakespeare's "Othello" make a scary sense in the world of modern teenagers.
08/30/01
In trying to make Othello more lifelike and bring it down to a younger audience ... the adaptation has rendered the material artless.
08/30/01
Top CriticSenseless teenage violence and death gets serious, unromantic treatment.
08/30/01
The filmmakers have a vision of the way Shakespeare can be made vibrant and vital to modern viewers, with or without the lofty original dialogue.
08/30/01
What O lacks in believability, it more than makes up for with a stunning relevancy.
08/30/01
The cast members do what they can to score with what they're thrown, but hardly anything goes in the basket.
08/30/01
Offers a thoughtful reading on adolescence pushed to the edge.
08/30/01
Those looking for a faithful adaptation may find that O is caught, awkwardly, between the twin themes of racism and corrosive jealousy.
08/30/01
The updated story is well written and intriguing.
08/30/01
As played by St. Paul's Josh Hartnett, Hugo is a fascinating, disturbing character.
08/30/01
More about good intentions than great drama.
08/30/01
They follow the original plot pretty closely, but what worked back in 1605 doesn't work in 1998.
08/30/01
It's intense and enjoyable.
08/30/01
Director Tim Blake Nelson brings an invigorating sense of style to this story.
08/30/01
Artful and emotionally compelling.
08/30/01
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