O (2001)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Tim Blake Nelson

Writers (WGA):

William Shakespeare (play)
Brad Kaaya (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Everything Comes Full Circle...

Plot:

An update of Shakespeare's 'Othello' with a young cast, set in a high school and centered around basketball player Odin.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Basketball | Shakespeare | Shakespeare's Othello | Boarding School

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Mekhi Phifer	...	Odin James
Josh Hartnett	...	Hugo Goulding
Andrew Keegan	...	Michael Cassio
Julia Stiles	...	Desi Brable
Rain Phoenix	...	Emily
Elden Henson	...	Roger Rodriguez
Martin Sheen	...	Coach Duke Goulding
John Heard	...	Dean Bob Brable
Anthony Johnson	...	Dell (as Anthony 'A. J.' Johnson)
Chris Dong	...	Dutchman Player
Rachel Shumate	...	Brandy
Marshall Gitter	...	Radio Announcer
Lisa Benavides	...	Ms. Serney
Chris Freihofer	...	Assistant Coach Jeffries
Ken French	...	Scout #1

Also Known As:

Othello (USA) (working title)
The One (Europe: English title) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, a scene of strong sexuality, language and drug use.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Portugal:M/16 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Chickie the Cop

Trivia:

Christina Ricci originally had the part of Desi Brable, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Odin kills Desi, he kills her by strangulation. However, at the end when she is dead from this, she has no visible finger marks or bruises on her.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hugo: All my life I always wanted to fly. I always wanted to live like a hawk. I know you're not supposed to be jealous of anything, but... to take flight, to soar above everything and everyone, now that's living.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lucy (2006)

Strong and chilling.

In these dark times when it seems like at least 95 % of all the teen-movies that are made are trying to copy "American Pie", this is the kick in the butt that the genre needs.

Shakespeare's classical play Othello has been somewhat rewritten to fit the silverscreen and the 21st century better. The theme of revenge, love and jealousy remains intact but the settings have been changed. Great actors in the three leading roles (Stiles, Phifer, Hartnett) makes this movie feel alive, and the cursing and violence makes it feel even more real. The ending is scary and sad, and it makes you think for a long time after you've seen it.

Along with "Donnie Darko" and "Ghost World", this is one of the best movies aimed at teens I've seen.

***/****