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O

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O (2001)

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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.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for violence, a scene of strong sexuality, language and drug use

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Aug 31, 2001 Wide

Box Office: $15,540,020

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... 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 intriguing and tragic characters. Set in an elite private school located deep in the American South, Mekhi Phifer portrays NBA hopeful Odin James, the only black student at the school. Odin not only enjoys widespread popularity with the students, he is dating Desi Brable (Julia Stiles), the beautiful daughter of the Dean of Palmetto Grove Academy (John Heard). Odin's best friend, Hugo Goulding (Josh Hartnett), drawn closely from Shakespeare's nefarious Iago, is a starting forward on the basketball team, and the son of Coach Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen). Hugo has been asked by his father to look out for Odin because of the particular pressures facing him at Palmetto Grove. Yet Hugo is bitterly envious of Odin and the attention Odin receives from the coach and everyone else at school. An introspective and somewhat mysterious young man, Hugo seeks to manipulate those around him to his own private ends. Placed by his own father in the role of Odin confidante, Hugo is, in reality, seeking to destroy the very person he pretends to befriend. As the basketball season comes to a dramatic finish, conflict among the six friends escalates into irrevocable tragedy when Hugo executes a plan prompting Odin to throw away all that he cares about most- the woman he loves, his bright future, his very soul. -- © 2001 Lions Gate Films [More]

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, John Heard

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, John Heard, Eldon Henson, Andrew Keegan, Rain Phoenix, Martin Sheen, A.J. Johnson, Harold Shumate

Director: Tim Blake Nelson

Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Screenwriter: Brad Kaaya
Producer: Daniel Fried, Eric Gitter
Composer: Jeff Danna
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Release:

Feb 18, 2003

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Reviews for O

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
11/19/08
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jason Anderson
Jason Anderson
eye WEEKLY

The presence of old lags Martin Sheen and John Heard just beggars belief. What were they thinking?

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
07/06/08
Richard Luck
Richard Luck
Channel 4 Film

This arty melodrama is not likely to make teenage America get down with Shakespeare.

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
03/31/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's highly enjoyable and well acted, with the Iago figure better motivated than in the original play, no single line of which has been retained except for the odd echo.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
03/25/08
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

This transferral of the tragedy of the Moor to a contempo American high school is something that never should have gone further than a class assignment to see if it could be made to work.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/25/08
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Helmer Nelson has fashioned a clever premise, helped along by a smart ensemble that manages to highlight Shakespeare's work without parodying it--no small accomplishment.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Ed Kelleher
Ed Kelleher
Film Journal International

Hartnett never allows him to become a hissable villain, keeping Hugo shy of our sympathies, yet his every move is utterly believable.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine

Long on the Shelf, O is well directed and decently acted, but its narrative, while more or less faithful to Shakespeare, tried to do too much, pushing the characters and their emotions to unreasonable and unconvincing extremes.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
09/17/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Credit, none the less, to the film-makers' game, unpatronising approach, and to Phifer and Stiles as compelling innocents.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

Leave it to Hollywood to make a bold, challenging film for teens (and adults) only to let it collect dust on a shelf as proposed release dates were set, then scratched, many times over.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/09/06
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
Film Threat

A well crafted and thoughtful film.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/09/06
Ross Williams
Ross Williams
Film Threat

There’s an air of authenticity to the proceedings here, and stylistic pretension never obscures good storytelling.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
05/21/05
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Apollo Guide
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
02/24/04
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

Let the film stand on its own and not amiss controversy.

Full Review Source: BlackFilm.com | comment Comment
05/13/03
Wilson Morales
Wilson Morales
BlackFilm.com

An intriguing experiment on paper, but a throwaway onscreen.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

While O does contain some good performances and a creative sense of direction by Tim Blake Nelson, the film never really becomes anything more than a curiosity.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
01/10/03
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The film's top acting kudos go to Mekhi Phifer.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
12/17/02
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

This is definitely worth watching, thanks to the performances and Nelson's direction.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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