O, a now-a-day remake of the Shakespeare classic Othello, comes to the high school scene where basketball MVP Odin (Mekhi Pfiefer) and Desi (Julia Stiles, finally in a R teen movie) are lovers, however this isnt to the liking of Hugo (Josh Hartnett), who plays on the same team as the MVP does, but always feels downtrodden by his father (Martin Sheen in one of his better roles) who might seem to like O better than him. Then the plot unfolds with Hugo being the devious one in trying to create tragedy where it isn't needed. All this comes together in one really nice package of a movie.
If only one thing I should give O (and Lions Gate) credit for is this- at least they didn't back down into PG-13 territory. An R rating was definately needed for a movie like this (sex, drugs, and not really rock and roll, and guns) and if the movie studios and film people backed down and made this more markettable to anyone, it would've been a pretty lame attempt at modern day Shakespeare. But thankfully, the stars come together and make a pretty powerful movie throughout with some really good performances and tightly made scenes of anger, betrayal and conclusion. A couple of flaws (one being the unbelievability of Hugo being able to mastermind a whole big cherang like the one presented and still being able to be himself), otherwise, it's worth the time and price of admission. Directed (suprisingly and surprisingly well) by Tim Blake Nelson, who last year played Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou. A-
If only one thing I should give O (and Lions Gate) credit for is this- at least they didn't back down into PG-13 territory. An R rating was definately needed for a movie like this (sex, drugs, and not really rock and roll, and guns) and if the movie studios and film people backed down and made this more markettable to anyone, it would've been a pretty lame attempt at modern day Shakespeare. But thankfully, the stars come together and make a pretty powerful movie throughout with some really good performances and tightly made scenes of anger, betrayal and conclusion. A couple of flaws (one being the unbelievability of Hugo being able to mastermind a whole big cherang like the one presented and still being able to be himself), otherwise, it's worth the time and price of admission. Directed (suprisingly and surprisingly well) by Tim Blake Nelson, who last year played Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou. A-