O (film)

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O

Directed by	Tim Blake Nelson
Produced by	Anthony Rhulen
Written by	William Shakespeare (play) Brad Kaaya
Starring	Mekhi Phifer Josh Hartnett Julia Stiles Andrew Keegan Martin Sheen
Distributed by	Lions Gate Films Inc.
Release date(s)	31 August 2001 (USA)
Running time	95 min.
Language	English
Budget	$5, 000, 000
IMDb profile

O is a 2001 'teen' film version of William Shakespeare's Othello.

The film's intended release date coincided with the Columbine High School massacre, so the film was shelved. It was finally released in 2001. It was directed by Tim Blake Nelson and written by Brad Kaaya. It contains many different styles of music, ranging from rap to opera. It was filmed in South Carolina.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Told in a contemporary high school setting, Othello is now Odin (Mekhi Phifer), star of the basketball team and the school's only African American student. Desdemona is Desi (Julia Stiles), the dean's daughter and Odin's girlfriend. Iago is Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's steroid-shooting son, who jealously plants seeds of doubt that fester in Odin's mind, leading them all to a tragically violent fate. Roderigo is Roger (Elden Henson), Hugo's best friend, a rich and troubled student who wants to go out with Desi, and helps Hugo until he is killed by Hugo because of his incompetence. Cassio is Michael Cassio (Andrew Keegan) another basketball player whom Odin highly respects at the beginning of the movie, but they have a falling-out when Michael gets up and fights with Roger, and Hugo convinces Odin that Michael loves Desi. Emilia is Emily (Rain Phoenix), Desi's best friend and Hugo's girlfriend. Brabantio is Dean Brabel (John Heard), the president of the school and Desi's father. The duke of Venice is the basketball coach, also known as Duke (Martin Sheen), whose character's role in the movie is much expanded compared to his role in the play. Duke's love and attention for Odin and not for Hugo is primarily what led to Hugo's instability and jealousy.

[edit] Use of Drugs

Unlike in Othello, drugs played a major role in Odin's behavior. Being under the influence of cocaine primarily caused his violent behavior. It helped Hugo manipulate him into going along with his plot to kill Desi at the end of the film. This was probably added for the sake of realism.

Character in Othello	Character in O	Actor
Othello	Odin James	Mekhi Phifer
Iago	Hugo Goulding	Josh Hartnett
Desdemona	Desi Brable	Julia Stiles
Cassio	Michael Cassio	Andrew Keegan
Duke of Venice	Coach Duke Goulding	Martin Sheen
Roderigo	Roger Rodriguez	Elden Henson
Emilia	Emily	Rain Phoenix
Brabantio	Dean Bob Brable	John Heard
Bianca	Brandy	Rachel Schumate