SnoopyStyle Coach Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen) intends to win the championship for the mostly white boarding school Palmetto Grove Hawks. Odin James (Mekhi Phifer) is the hero while coach's own son Hugo Goulding (Josh Hartnett) is put down. Duke tells the school that he love Odin like his own son and gives him the MVP award. Odin calls out wealthy Michael Cassio (Andrew Keegan) as his go to guy. Odin is dating Dean Bob Brable (John Heard)'s daughter Desi (Julia Stiles). Jealous Hugo sets up Odin with the help of weak-minded Roger Calhoun who is in love with Desi.This is a modern day adaptation of the Shakespeare play Othello. The adaptation is not entirely smooth. There is a sense of unreality but the young cast maintains the believability. They are all quite solid in their roles. Josh Hartnett is actually good in an underhanded role which is different than his usual mind-mannered good guy roles. Phifer is brash which is appropriate. It's a solid adaptation.

justenlewis88 I'd always heard that this movie is supposed to be really bad. I heard it was cheesy and simplified a more complex story. However I disagree. While some of the dialogue is cheesy,most ninety's teen movies had the same type. However I don't feel they simplified the story. If they had stayed true to the source material most people would be totally lost if they hadn't seen or read the play. Making it center around basketball instead of an army so that teens could understand the character dynamics better was a smart move. I'm 25 years old and, I don't think I know but maybe 10 people my age who could tell you what a moor is, so the overt racism in the film was as necessary. The saving grace of this film though is Josh Hartnett. While is his character could have used more development, his acting from start to finish is superb. The way his jealousy slowly creeps its way into everyone's life is a little chilling. Well that's my first ever review.... Of "O" lol. I nervous writing it since i hadn't don't it before and didn't wanna sound pretentious or dumb but i hope its help for some of you.

wes-connors "'O' is Odin James (Mekhi Phifer), the school's star basketball player and future NBA hopeful. He has the adoration of all, including the team's coach (Martin Sheen) and Dean's beautiful daughter, Desi (Julia Stiles). Odin's troubled friend Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's son is deeply resentful of his father's preference of Odin on and off the court. When Hugo plots a diabolical scheme to sow the seeds of mistrust between 'O' and Desi, it sets in motion a disturbing chain of events which erupts into a firestorm of breathtaking intensity. 'O' is a stunning tale that will stay with you long after its final, powerful frame," according to the promotional synopsis.And, like it promises: "O" features, "Hot young stars, a hip, driving soundtrack, plus a provocative tale of jealousy and betrayal combine to create this controversial modern-day version of Shakespeare's classic, 'Othello.'" The Shakespearian plot is still good, after all these centuries. But, the transference of these events to a "high school" setting doesn't work. As a whole, the actors do not look or act between 14-18 years old; at one point, Mr. James says they're eighteen (a wise age to pick, from range available). Granted, with retention and steroids, many athletes look much older, presently - still, "O" doesn't balance this with age appropriate casting (or behavior).Making the age matter worse is a script which really doesn't really ring true. This story, with its controversy likely related to violent real-life teenage mass murderers, doesn't possess the degree of teen angst and alienation necessary to bring that slant to the tale. And, it doesn't fit the "Othello" plot.The cast and direction are very good, though… why didn't somebody suggest a college setting? ***** O (5/26/01) Tim Blake Nelson ~ Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles

Jenny Guevara The movie, "O" was directed by Tim Blake Nelson and released in 2001. "O" follows closely to the play, Othello, written by William Shakespeare. The movie plot is that Odin James, representing Othello, is the star of the high school basketball team and his best friend, Hugo, envies his popularity and all the attention he receives; therefore Hugo devotes his time to destroying Odin. Throughout the movie, Hugo represents the clever and sneaky antagonist from Shakespeare's play, Iago. Hugo begins to destroy Odin by first convincing him that his girlfriend, Desi is having an affair with Michael Cassio. Hugo then makes it appear true by convincing Michael to spend more time with Desi and by obtaining the scarf, an important symbol of Odin's love for Desi, and giving it to Michael. Odin is hurt and angry and follows Hugo's plan to have both Desi and Michael killed. Odin is devastated to discover he's been deceived and manipulated by his best friend and he commits suicide. In the end Odin's tragic flaws were his trust in Hugo, his assumptions and his jealousy, which all led to his downfall and demise.The major theme of "O" is the same as the theme in Othello: appearance and reality. Throughout the movie, the audience is a witness to all reality aside to what appeared to be.Knowing the story of Othello could help a journalist by showing how important it is never to assume. Odin assumed based on what appeared to be true. Rather than checking into rumors and finding the truth, he assumed that his best friend was telling the truth. This is a good lesson to journalists because it teaches that presumptions are a substitute for researching and demonstrates that assuming leads to misfortune.