O

R

Released Aug 31, 2001

1 hr. 35 min.

Drama

List

65%

124 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Moving the classic tale of "Othello" onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi Phifer) who is convinced by a conniving best friend, Hugo (Josh Hartnett) that his girlfriend (Julia Stiles) is cheating on him. Of course, what Odin doesn't know is that Hugo is in fact motivated by his own jealousy of Odin's good fortune. It's a sticky situation in classic Shakespearean tradition.

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Critics Consensus

Though well-intentioned and serious in its exploration of teen violence, O is an uneven experiment that doesn't quite succeed.

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Alec B

You have to grant that the movie has guts. It is unfortunate then that the screenplay often feels like too much of push and the radical directions the plot goes are often unearned.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Steve D

Solid adaptation despite some issues thanks to a strong cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hartnett is one twisted dude. Seriously devious! Not the best drama but worth a viewing. The end is a real shocker

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very dramatic. Like really, what a highschool…

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

jordan m

This was a better modernization of Shakespeare than Get Over It was earlier in the year, most likely because Othello as a play makes for much better cinematic material. They nailed all of the main plot developments of the play and portrayed them in a way that allowed dumb high school students to understand the subject matter. Stiles is one of my favorite actresses & both male leads performed well. The reservations I had were more related to the source material as basic jealousy doesn't generally escalate to the point of multiple homicides, but I digress. They did a good job.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The plot and storylines of the movie is written and constructed in a superb manner. Most of the actors in this film could've used some work on their skills, however Josh Hartnett doesn't get the recongition this movie deserves, the movie also doesn't get the recognition it deserves. This film follows the likes of a Basketball Phenom with hopes of going to College, Pros, and The Top of the popularity class(Odin). Along with his Teammate/Classmate/"Friend" (Hugo) wants the same things, but only achieves one. Top of the popularity Class. He gets jelous that he can't even get the top popularity. So he concocks a plan, to fill Odin's head with lies, and try to turn his life into a tailspin. Hugo convinces Odin that his girlfriend is cheating on him (Desi/Julia Stiles) with Odin's best friend (Micheal/Andrew Keegan). The twisted ending adds interest into the mindset and make you wonder, whats going through these characters heads. It's a must watch!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Tim Blake Nelson

Director

Mekhi Phifer

Odin James

Josh Hartnett

Hugo Goulding

Julia Stiles

Desi Brable

Andrew Keegan

Michael Cassio

Rain Phoenix

Emily

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O: Official Clip - It Has to Look Like Suicide

2:11

O: Official Clip - Watch Your Girl, Bro

2:09

O: Official Clip - Stolen Scarf

1:45

O: Official Clip - Odin's Accusation

2:12

O: Official Clip - A Life of Jealousy

2:11

O: Official Clip - My Life Is Over

2:12

O: Official Clip - Believing the Lie

2:09

O: Official Clip - Dunk Contest Drama

2:12

O: Official Clip - Plan of Attack

2:13

O: Official Clip - Under Suspicion

2:09

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David Ansen

Newsweek

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

Mar 31, 2008

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

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.

Mar 25, 2008

Full Review

Alan Morrison

Empire Magazine

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

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The movie is classy and dead serious, but it may not meet with the approval of either Shakespeare die-hards or teen audiences. For the rest of us, though, it works.

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2022

Full Review

Richard Luck

Film4

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

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 6, 2008

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

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.

Mar 25, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

Moving the classic tale of "Othello" onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi Phifer) who is convinced by a conniving best friend, Hugo (Josh Hartnett) that his girlfriend (Julia Stiles) is cheating on him. Of course, what Odin doesn't know is that Hugo is in fact motivated by his own jealousy of Odin's good fortune. It's a sticky situation in classic Shakespearean tradition.

Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Executive Producer: Michael I. Levy
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Brad Kaaya
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Chickie the Cop, Rhulen Entertainment, Daniel Fried Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.4M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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