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Updated retelling of William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Othello', which drops the story into the modern-day setting of an elite private school in the American South. Mekhi Phifer stars as Odin James, the only black kid in the school, and also a champion basketball player, who is dating the popular and beautiful Desi (Julia Stiles). But his best friend Hugo (Josh Hartnett) resents his popularity, and in particular Odin's relationship with Hugo's father, basketball coach Duke (Martin Sheen). To make Odin jealous and sabotage his popular status, Hugo embarks upon a carefully planned scheme of revenge, laying a series of signs to make it look as though Desi is cheating on Odin with teammate Michael (Andrew Keenan). Consumed by jealousy, Odin starts to lose his grip on everything that he holds dear...
Synopsis
Director Tim Blake Nelson sets Shakespeare's "Othello" in a modern-day private high school and the result is a dark, sombre teen tragedy. Mekhi Phifer (Clockers) stars as Odin James, an African-American star basketball player at the otherwise all-white school. The coach of the team (Martin Sheen) loves Odin like a son, which causes his real son Hugo (Josh Hartnett) to squirm with jealousy and plan an elaborate revenge. Julia Stiles (a modern-dress Shakespeare regular, having also co-starred in Hamlet and Ten Things I Hate About You) is Desi, the virginal daughter of the dean, with whom Odin is in love. The ensuing outburst of tragic teen violence is a shocking denouement that elevates the already dangerous mood of the film to fully fledged terror.
Because of the intense violence in the film, it was shelved for years by a nervous Miramax in the wake of the real-life Columbine high school massacre. Finally, it was picked up by Lion's Gate Films. Upon viewing the film, such worry seems needless, as the film does nothing to glorify the violence it depicts. It explores themes of class, race, and all-consuming jealousy. Shakespeare's original dialogue is abandoned in favour of hip-hop-flavoured modern language, but the tale's timeless relevance remains unaltered.
Because of the intense violence in the film, it was shelved for years by a nervous Miramax in the wake of the real-life Columbine high school massacre. Finally, it was picked up by Lion's Gate Films. Upon viewing the film, such worry seems needless, as the film does nothing to glorify the violence it depicts. It explores themes of class, race, and all-consuming jealousy. Shakespeare's original dialogue is abandoned in favour of hip-hop-flavoured modern language, but the tale's timeless relevance remains unaltered.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Modern directors have found a way of connecting great literature to younger audiences by putting recasting the context -- this is not a corruption, for indeed Shakespeare and other literary giants have had their work adapted for the times, and for different times, on stage and screen numerous times. Perhaps the best comparison here is the adaptation of the French 'Dangerous Liaisons' to the modern, urban 'Cruel Intentions'. One of the best places for playing out unbridled passion isn't the corporate boardroom or courtroom or political venue, but the intensely emotional and unrestrained world of teenagers and high school. It is into this context that director Tim Blake Nelson (also known for his acting in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' and 'Holes') and screenwriter Brad Kaaya updated Shakespeare's play of jealousy and betrayal, Othello.
While Mekhi Phifer is the title player ('O', actually Odin James, the modern Othello), Josh Hartnett in the supporting role of Hugo (Iago) steals the show. Odin is a black basketball player in a private, mostly-white southern prep school, in love with the dean's daughter, and the star of the basketball team, setting up rivalries in the team based both on abilities and racial lines. Hugo is jealous of Odin's popularity, skill and preferential treatment by all, even Hugo's own father, Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen), the basketball coach. Hugo decides to ruin Odin, his jealousy becoming contagious of a sort to influence his roommate Roger, his own girlfriend Emily (Rain Phoenix), Odin's best friend Michael, and finally Odin's girlfriend, the dean's daughter, Desi (Desdimona, played by Julia Stiles).
This is an underappreciated gem.
... Read more ›1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Teen drama version of Shakespeare's drama of lust, jealousy and manipulation. Josh Hartnett is appropriately smug and unlikeable as the Iago character 'Hugo'; school basketball coach's son and all round slippery customer. Mekhi Phifer plays Othello as 'O'; basketball star and all round hero, he succumbs quickly to Hugo's manipulation and suspects his girlfriend of sleeping with other guys, eventually leading to tragedy.
With competent performances but the feel of just another high school drama movie, it's more like 'Ten Things I Hate about You' than Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet.
With competent performances but the feel of just another high school drama movie, it's more like 'Ten Things I Hate about You' than Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
TOP 100 REVIEWER
This is a good shot at modernising 'Othello' in an American high school situation - not at all an easy thing to do, on the surface, but it does work. The jealousy centres, not on military prowess and promotion, but on basketball, and of course a Desdemona figure (Julia Stiles, who is good) is there too. Josh Harnett takes on the tough Iago role and makes a pretty good job of it. The film does not have the disctinction of, say, 'Clueless' (based on Jane Austen's 'Emma') but it is thoroughly enjoyable and the eventual murder arises surprisingly naturally from the action.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Puddleduck
I had high hopes for this one, given the cast (including Julia Stiles in the role of Desi) , having enjoyed some of the other modern-day versions of Shakespeare plays, such as "10 Things I Hate About You".
I quite like modern-day remakes that manage to portray Shakespeares' characters as the complex, but occasionally flawed, individuals that they are. However, the "Othello" character, Odi, was not particularly strong or believable, and he is presented as a rather gullible, macho guy, making him rather one-dimensional. Julia Stiles was not given the opportunity to shine as the bright, intelligent and capable actress that she is in a script that cast her as a rather watered-down version of Desdemona (Desi in this film version). Desi's friend and roommate, Emily, who represents Shakespeare's Emilia, who is originally strong, supportive, faithful and caring to Desdemona, comes across as shifty and a bit of a traitor.
The film is set in an American Prep School, which seems more like an hotel. The male characters's story centres around High School basketball and their vying for popularity in that scene, which is something which an American/Canadian audience can more relate to more readily than a British one.
I quite like modern-day remakes that manage to portray Shakespeares' characters as the complex, but occasionally flawed, individuals that they are. However, the "Othello" character, Odi, was not particularly strong or believable, and he is presented as a rather gullible, macho guy, making him rather one-dimensional. Julia Stiles was not given the opportunity to shine as the bright, intelligent and capable actress that she is in a script that cast her as a rather watered-down version of Desdemona (Desi in this film version). Desi's friend and roommate, Emily, who represents Shakespeare's Emilia, who is originally strong, supportive, faithful and caring to Desdemona, comes across as shifty and a bit of a traitor.
The film is set in an American Prep School, which seems more like an hotel. The male characters's story centres around High School basketball and their vying for popularity in that scene, which is something which an American/Canadian audience can more relate to more readily than a British one.
If you're struggling through your text of Othello and are desperate to see a stage or film version, I would forget this one and get hold of Janet Suzman's stage version of Othello, produced in South Africa. It has far more depth and intrigue and is definitely more memorable!
By Laura
Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to say, I was a little disappointed with this film. Having studied Shakespeare's Othello and seen a few productions of it, including the film version starring Laurence Fishburne, I'm very familiar with the original and frankly this version doesn't live up to it. The characters seem very one-dimensional and generally over-simplified: Hugo lacks the ingenuity and subtlety of Iago; Odin seems shallow and naive compared to Othello, who was proud and eloquent; and Emily is shady and underhanded rather than the loyal and strong-minded friend that Emilia is. Othello is probably my favourite Shakespeare play so I may have had overly high expectations, but all the same, I just thought it would be...more.
Having said that, it was by no means a terrible film. As a standalone flick, it would have been great - it's got drama, violence and romance, and has a pretty solid cast, including Julia Stiles, who starred in another Shakespeare adaptation, 10 Things I Hate About You. Actually, hers was the only character that I wasn't disappointed by: although 'Desi' is not as demure as Desdemona, I'm not a big fan of Desdemona in the original anyway. But, as a parallel to Othello, it's quite weak.
Overall, it was all right, definitely watchable but I can't say it blew me away.
Having said that, it was by no means a terrible film. As a standalone flick, it would have been great - it's got drama, violence and romance, and has a pretty solid cast, including Julia Stiles, who starred in another Shakespeare adaptation, 10 Things I Hate About You. Actually, hers was the only character that I wasn't disappointed by: although 'Desi' is not as demure as Desdemona, I'm not a big fan of Desdemona in the original anyway. But, as a parallel to Othello, it's quite weak.
Overall, it was all right, definitely watchable but I can't say it blew me away.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
One of my favorite movies of all it. Love it, because it is such a strong movie. You have got to watch it.
Published 2 months ago by hfk
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very powerful and original film
"Othello" in the 20th century, and I don't think it could have been imagined in a more powerful or original way. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Alfredo Hamill
4.0 out of 5 stars
Othello 'O'
Othello 'O' is a very good film which takes you through the life of Othello 'O' and the tragedy that followed. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2011 by Ms. A. E. Haddock
3.0 out of 5 stars
the power and negativity of jealousy
I haven't read or seen Othello of which this film is supposed to be a modern version so I judge it as a normal screenplay. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2007 by dan the fan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't take it so seriously!
Ok guys, we all know if hardcore Shakespeare is what you're looking for, then you've come to the wrong place. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2006 by Mme Janet Thompson
2.0 out of 5 stars
No poetry, no relief
This updating of 'Othello' follows the structure of Shakespeare's tragedy closely, and it is bold to update this from a historical militaristic setting to modern day US high school... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2005 by Adam Brooks
2.0 out of 5 stars
Just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid...
Look, maybe these "modern day Shakespeare adaptations" have gone too far. This movie about a bunch of rich kids getting jealous of other kids' girlfriends or whatever does not... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2005 by "lil_faith"
4.0 out of 5 stars
This classy update makes Shakesphere look like an amateur!!
We all hear our teachers persistantly tell us how Shakesphere was a pivotal figure in English Literature. I was always a critic, especially after trying to read Othello. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2004 by "pne101"
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