O (2001)

I'll tell you why so serious

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

O (2001): Dir: Tim Blake Nelson / Cast: Mikhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, Josh Hartnett, Andrew Keegan, Elden Henson: Hits dead centre on message but flawed with its presentation as entertainment. Title is pathetically non vocal but it stands for Odin, top basketball player in high school. The coach claims to love him like a son. This doesn't impress his real son Hugo who devises a plan to derail Odin's success, with horrid results. It is a very detailed plan involving deceit and jealousy. Directed by Tim Blake Nelson who builds tension despite the many contrived moments where information is heard by just the right people. Mikhi Phifer plays Odin as a success story slowly destroyed through manipulation and eventually his own rage. Josh Hartnett plays the manipulating Hugo who will stop at nothing to prove himself superior. Julia Stiles plays Odin's girlfriend who becomes the victim of manipulation and eventually she too suffers for the crimes of others. Andrew Keegan plays a suspended player whom Hugo manipulates into hanging out with Stiles in an attempt to get Odin suspicious. Elden Henson plays a kid who is the victim of bullying until he eventually snaps. Based on the Shakespeare play Othello where the biggest strength comes from fine casting and the capitalization of hard hitting themes. The production isn't fancy but it shows how jealousy can destroy lives. Score: 6 / 10

Unfortunately, the authors of Othello were not aware of the vast differences between races, black and white. To say that a high school student would be aware of these differences is absolutely ridiculous, regardless of whether or not the kids are jealous. Blacks score, on average about 84 on IQ tests, whites 100, but are better athletes and football players. Blacks have different social norms, backgrounds, families, DNA, crime rates, you name it. The kids would become aware of this, later on. How many can say that the way they were in high school, i.e. friends, dates, was the same as when they were 21 or 31, is not true. To say that the reason Negroes do not mate with whites is "jealousy" is absurd. There is good reason for segregation.

The only reason I don't give this a zero out of 10 is the fact that Julia Stiles is excellent in her role, as is Josh Hartnett. But as to being a brilliant reworking of Othello that adapts to show the dangers of teen-age violence, envy, jealousy and lust? I think not. Virtually everyone in this melodramatic update is an overdone caricature of who they play in the movie. While the bullying scenes and picking on the dweeb are accurate enough, they are followed by a succession of stupid decisions by everyone involved in the plot. Even Julia Stiles' attraction to "O" and his monstrous ego is annoyingly dumb, but then hey... that's the story. The interracial aspect adds nothing to the story either. As a lesson depicting the evils of teen violence, it doesn't work. There's far too much cunning for a teen ager by Hartnett's character, and far, far too much gullible idiocy by "O". The only thing I took away from this movie is bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, and the thought that I am SO glad Martin Sheen was as good as he was on West Wing and won't be remembered for this disaster.

"'O' is Odin James (Mekhi Phifer), the school's star basketball player and future NBA hopeful. He has the adoration of all, including the team's coach (Martin Sheen) and Dean's beautiful daughter, Desi (Julia Stiles). Odin's troubled friend Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's son is deeply resentful of his father's preference of Odin on and off the court. When Hugo plots a diabolical scheme to sow the seeds of mistrust between 'O' and Desi, it sets in motion a disturbing chain of events which erupts into a firestorm of breathtaking intensity. 'O' is a stunning tale that will stay with you long after its final, powerful frame," according to the promotional synopsis.And, like it promises: "O" features, "Hot young stars, a hip, driving soundtrack, plus a provocative tale of jealousy and betrayal combine to create this controversial modern-day version of Shakespeare's classic, 'Othello.'" The Shakespearian plot is still good, after all these centuries. But, the transference of these events to a "high school" setting doesn't work. As a whole, the actors do not look or act between 14-18 years old; at one point, Mr. James says they're eighteen (a wise age to pick, from range available). Granted, with retention and steroids, many athletes look much older, presently - still, "O" doesn't balance this with age appropriate casting (or behavior).Making the age matter worse is a script which really doesn't really ring true. This story, with its controversy likely related to violent real-life teenage mass murderers, doesn't possess the degree of teen angst and alienation necessary to bring that slant to the tale. And, it doesn't fit the "Othello" plot.The cast and direction are very good, though… why didn't somebody suggest a college setting? ***** O (5/26/01) Tim Blake Nelson ~ Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles