O

United States

2001

95 Min

Color

1.85:1

English

Currently 2.2/5 Stars.
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EXEC Michael I. Levy, William Shively

PROD Daniel Fried, Eric Gitter, Anthony Rhulen

SCR Brad Kaaya, William Shakespeare

CAST Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, Josh Hartnett, Martin Sheen, John Heard, Rain Phoenix, Elden Henson, Andrew Keegan, Anthony Johnson

MUSIC Jeff Danna

Ghent, Stockholm (American Independents)

Deep in the American South, NBA hopeful Odin James is the only black student at an elite private school. Playing point guard, Odin is a basketball scout’s dream, possessing the talent to go straight from high school to the pros. Odin not only enjoys widespread popularity with the students, he is dating the beautiful Desi Brable, daughter of Dean Brable. Odin’s best friend, Hugo Goulding, is a starting forward on the basketball team and the son of Coach Duke Goulding. Hugo is bitterly envious of Odin and the attention he receives from the coach and everyone else. Placed in the role of Odin’s confidante, Hugo is, in reality, seeking to destroy his friend. Striking at the very core of Odin’s soul, Hugo convinces him that Desi is having an affair with another member of the basketball team, Michael Casio. As the basketball season comes to a dramatic finish, conflict among the friends escalates into irrevocable tragedy when Hugo executes a plan prompting Odin to throw away all he cares about most. –Inbaseline

Tim Blake Nelson

Tim Blake Nelson (born May 11, 1964) is an American director, writer, singer, and actor.
Nelson has appeared as an actor in the film, TV and theatre. He had a featured role as Delmar in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?. According to directors Joel and Ethan Coen, he was the only one in the cast or crew who had read Homer’s Odyssey, a work upon which the film is loosely based.

He has directed film versions of his plays The Grey Zone, and Eye of God as well as writing and directing two original screenplays: 1998’s Kansas, and Leaves of Grass which was released in 2009. He is also the director of O, based on William Shakespeare’s play Othello but set in a modern-day high school. He is on the Board of Directors for The Actors Center in New York City, as well as Soho Rep Theatre. —Wikipedia

DOUGLAS REESE

19Dec11

Undervalued. Tim Blake Nelson's direction is tonally inspired and slightly echoes Bergman, and the performances from practically all involved are universally excellent. I see why my granny loves it now. It's definitely a socially relevant film without blatantly speaking to the audience about it; and it's very hard not to get a bit emotionally rattled by the final act. Josh Hartnett's performance is haunting.

Mário Coelho likes this

DT

7Feb12

Surprisingly, yes.

WhatsUpWill

21Jul11

A two star average is RIDICULOUS. Aside from Julia Stiles giving a horrendous performance, this film is absolutely marvelous. Fantastic adaptation of Othello. Josh Hartnett may never be better?

DT and BUSHRA like this