The oddball O is a blunt answer to the conceptual question: When is Shakespeare no longer Shakespeare?
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08/31/01
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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.
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... [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, John Heard
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
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Reviews for O
An interesting experiment with some occasional moments of great power.
08/31/01
Deserves to be seen, both for the conversation it should spark about the causes of violence and for the connection it makes to a classic play.
08/31/01
If the plot is largely Shakespearean, the most important nuances get lost along the way.
08/31/01
An odd teen drama that works in its curious remoteness.
08/31/01
Very little seems to work, or matter, or make much sense.
08/31/01
Top CriticNothing about O rings true.
08/31/01
Top CriticAn absolutely brilliant drama that should be required viewing for teens, their parents and their teachers.
08/31/01
Like many of Shakespeare's plays, it tackles human frailities with bold intelligence. This O does not exploit or glorify violence, it explains it.
08/31/01
A worthy experiment, though far from a slamdunk.
08/31/01
Top CriticComes off as surprisingly slack and punchless, and doesn't come close to pulling off some of its more daring material.
08/31/01
In the ways that the plot points have been 'modernized,' events and character motivation often come off as far-fetched.
08/31/01
Top CriticA good film for most of the way, and then a powerful film at the end.
08/31/01
Top CriticO breaks down after a while, but it's a nice try, and deserves the chance to be seen.
08/31/01
Top CriticWe see that violence comes at a price. That's a valuable lesson for us all -- whether we're young or old.
08/31/01
A good idea felled by lackluster execution.
08/31/01
The key to Othello is making the audience consider a guy who strangles his spouse out of jealousy to be a tragic figure. O doesn't accomplish that.
08/30/01
Without the poetry, a retelling of Othello becomes paved with believability problems -- especially for a modern, movie-fed audience.
08/30/01
Top CriticA plodding, earnest adaptation that strips the source of its richness and ambiguity.
08/30/01
This update of Othello ... actually does the Bard proud.
08/30/01
Latest News for O
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Brush Up On Your Shakespeare With Our List Of The Bard's Best Films
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Orlando Bloom and Kate Bosworth are two seriously photogenic young stars who've never worked together. That's about to change. The pair will co-star in a Depression-era drama... More...
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