O

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, Martin Sheen and Rain Phoenix.
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Running time: 95 mins
Certificate: 15

Out to buy on DVD 06/09/04

Odin James (Phifer) is the best basketball player in the High School draft. He is in love with the Dean's daughter Desi (Stiles) and is about to take the Hawks to their 20th state championship. He is the most popular guy in school and Coach Duke (Sheen) treats him like a son. This does not go down well with Hugo (Hartnett), the Duke's real son, who, consummed by jealousy, plots revenge against Odin.

Actor/Director Tim Blake Nelson gives Shakespeare's Othello a modern twist but retains the Bard's narrative of jealousy, revenge, manipulation and tragedy.

The performances from the young cast are very good, with Josh Hartnett going against type with a very nasty performance as Hugo. The way his character manipulates Odin is classic Shakespeare and very true to the original play. Phifer's Odin, consumed by jealousy and doubt is also very watchable but Julia Stiles doesn't really have much to do other than been the object of affection. There is also good support from the always class Martin Sheen as Coach Duke.

Tim Blake Nelson's direction is extremely good. He handles the character interactions very well and the way the basketball scenes are shot would put most sports coverage to shame.

On the downside, I would have like to have heard some of the language from the play used and maybe the actual character names but these are only minor niggles.

Modernising a Shakespearean play can be very hit and miss but O brings the classic themes of jealousy and revenge to a 21st Century audience starved of great story lines with a lot style and gusto.

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