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Take Shakespeare, update it a bit for the 21st Century (though this film was produced last century), and add some rap. O, if you have not already heard, is based on Bill Shakespeare’s Othello, but is set in modern day South Carolina. As a disclaimer to you the reader, I have not read, watched, or acted in this Shakespearian classic, so I do not know how close the association is between the film and the play. The movie begins with a very artistic scene at the top of a long staircase where pigeons are perched as Hugo (Josh Hartnett, Town & Country) narrates about wanting the ability to fly. Then the movie takes off as we are introduced to the rest of the major players and themes of the film. We are also introduced to basketball (which I know could not have been in Othello) at Palmetto Grove prep school. Basically the story is that Hugo becomes very jealous of Odin (Mekhi Phifer, Shaft) since Odin, O for short, is the star basketball player and has a great girlfriend. On top of that Hugo’s dad is the school’s basketball coach, but his dad seems to treat Odin more like a son than Hugo. Coach Duke (Martin Sheen, Apocalypse Now) is hoping to use the immensely talented O to win the state championship and then use that as a springboard to a coaching job at the college level. So you see jealousy drives Hugo to sabotage Odin, Odin’s girlfriend Desi (Julie Stiles, Save the Last Dance), and Odin’s best friend Mike (Andrew Keegan). In order to do this, Hugo uses the relationship between Desi and Odin to tear the two apart and break up Odin’s friendship with Michael. Hugo enlists the assistance of Emily (Rain Phoenix) and Roger (Elden Henson) in his plans. Unbeknownst to the dean (John Heard) whom is also Desi’s father, Hugo uses him as well in his plans. All this jealousy and intrigue leads to a very dramatic ending, much like other plays of Shakespeare. Tim Blake Nelson, the stupid one in O’ Brother Where Art Thou?, directs O from the screenplay of Brad Kaaya. Other cast members include Anthony Johnson, Chris Freihofer, Christopher Jones, and Chris Dong. I thought that the players put in some good performances, especially Hartnett as Hugo (which is a bit of a different role than in Pearl Harbor). One exception would be Stiles, who I think does a better job in Save the Last Dance where she also dates a Black man (this might be a reflection of the fact that Save the Last Dance was made after this film). So it would seem then that O is a real good movie, however the movie seemed to move from a very artistic film to more of a rough street feel, plus this transition was far too rapid and far too often. It is as if the filmmakers weren’t quite sure what they wanted to do. I also could have done with a little less bitches and ho’s rap music. Despite these shortcomings, I still give O eight couches on the About-Movies.com scale. Bye bye.
Last updated: Saturday, October 28, 2006 05:37:38 PM Click Here to get back into frames.
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