O (R, 2001)

common sense media says

Imaginative, arresting Shakespeare retelling.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the film's original theatrical release was delayed because of its violence. As in the original play, characters are brutally murdered, and there is rape and suicide. Teen characters smoke, drink, and use drugs. The language is extremely harsh, including the n-word and a homophobic epithet, as well as some very harsh rap lyrics on the soundtrack.  A consensual sexual encounter turns into a rape, and there are other sexual references and situations. A girl is referred to as a slut.

Positive messages: The racial issues of Shakespeare's play Othello have been the focus of academics, cultural historicists and students for centuries. Here, once again,  the complex racial fears are reexamined in a contemporary setting with great skill. Tolerance, acceptance, and trust are the virtues implicitly being promoted, but the question remains: If Odin didn't succumb to his fatal flaw, would this tale be anywhere near as relevant?
Positive role models: Each character's actions, and flaws, are integral to the outcome of this tragedy. Therefore, it's hard to call any of them role models. Hugo (based on a one of Shakespeare's most famous villains, Iago) is just as dastardly as ever!
Violence: Intense and fatal violence, rape scene, suicide.
Sex: Sexual references and situations.
Language: Extremely strong language, including the "N" word.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teens drink and use drugs, including steroids.

More on O

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how easy it can be to shake someone's trust, and how difficult it is to determine who we should believe. Does Odin doubt Desi so quickly because he's unsure about himself?
  • Would he be so quick to believe that she was unfaithful to him if Mike was black? Would Hugo be so angry at Odin if were white?
  • What do you think about O's use of the n-word and his reaction when he's told that Mike and Desi call him that behind his back? When Hugo is invited to have dinner with his father, why does the camera show only Hugo?
  • Since this is based on a play written in the very early seventeenth century (1603) it has its roots in classical Greek tragedies where the hero (Odin) always has a "fatal flaw" that will, no matter what, lead to his down fall. What do you feel is Odin's fatal flaw?
  • Why do you think that race is such a large issue between the three main characters, Desi, Odin and Hugo?

What's the story?

What's the story?

O is a retelling of Shakespeare's Othello, set in a contemporary southern prep school. Odin (Mekhi Phifer), a talented black athlete, the only black student in the school, is in love with Desi (Julia Stiles), the headmaster's daughter. Instead of Iago, the trusted friend who's consumed with jealousy is Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's son. Othello explores deeply troublesome issues regarding race, sexuality, promiscuity, trust and jealousy, and this version does it justice.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Othello works exceptionally well in a high school setting because so much of the plot fits in with the overheated emotions and impetuousness of adolescence. The plot turns on rumors, misunderstandings, trusting the wrong people, and jumping to conclusions, all of which will seem familiar to teenagers. They will also be very familiar with the racial issues, and their impact on O's hypersensitivity to believing that Desi is faithful to him. Hugo's use of steroids deepens the credibility of his fury at Odin's success.

Odin shows his conflicts about women when he asks Desi, "If you were a virgin like you said you were, how come you acting all freaky?" This is typical of immature people who can't reconcile mature sexuality as a reflection of true intimacy. First-time director Tim Blake Nelson (who was last seen singing "In the Jailhouse Now" in O Brother Where Art Thou) shows a strong command of the storyline and imaginative use of visuals that underscore the movie's themes. He gets very strong performances from the actors, especially Hartnett and Phifer and Martin Sheen as the coach. Despite the outcry of Shakespeare elitests everywhere, O does a great job of transporting the The Moor of Venice into a contemporary setting and into the lives of contemporary teens in terms they can understand. 

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Trimark
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Mekhi Phifer
Genre: Drama
Run time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release: August 31, 2001
DVD release: February 19, 2002
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence, a scene of strong sexuality, language and drug use

This review was written by Rhiannon Bruni
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

The Review Guy
teen, 15 years old
 
Dark Drama has plenty of Violence,Sex,and Swearing
Messages:The film is from Shakespeare's play Othello,but the message here is that being jealous of someone can be deadly and can go too far,but this movie is just like the play Othello. Role Models:Both the teens and adults are poor role models,Hugo is madly jealous and even decides to use murder to make Odin's life awful,Odin decides to help Hugo in his plan to murder someone,and Desi seems to be the only good person in this movie,but looks can be deceiving. Violence:Some intense basketball action,a fight starts at a party which then one of them gets a cut in his chest which shows some blood,The violence doesn't actually happen until the last 30 minutes of the film,which there are several shootings that show graphic bullet wounds,a man chokes a woman to death,and a suicide is shown at the end of the film. Sex:A man and woman take their shirts off,you can see the man's chest,but the woman's breasts aren't shown,then it suggests that they'll have sex,but it's not shown.There's also some kissing,and some graphic reference's to sex.Some of the plot revolves around a rumor about Desi cheating on Odin.And in one graphic scene two people have extreme sex in a motel,there's lot's of skin but no nudity. Language:Plenty of strong language,which has an almost constant use of f**k,plus plenty of uses of s**t,fagg*t,d*ck,b***h,assh**e,d*mnn,h*ll and even the "N" word which is also heard once from a white person which then he is reminded that it's racist. Consumerism:Not an issue Drinking,Drugs,and Smoking:A party shows drinking from teens,there's also some drinking from teens in there dorm rooms,A teen decides to take steroids to make him stronger,three teens are shown snorting cocaine in there dorm room. My MPAA Rating R:Language Throughout,Sexual Content,Drug Use and Some Violence

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