Watch O for a lesson on how to dumb-down the genius of William Shakespeare for contemporary audiences too lazy to even read the CliffsNotes to Othello. In O, a white basketball player at a private prep school is jealous of his black teammate and sets in motion a tragic chain of events in a plot meant to copy Shakespeare's Othello. Try to overlook that the black player is the only black student in this school and that the remainder of the student body consists of rich white kids who listen to hip hop and speak in Ebonics, reducing the poetry of Shakespeare to jive. Try also to overlook the repeated use of the N-word, especially in the rap lyrics, made even more offensive and obscene because it's used not as a racial slur but as a badge of pride; a sign of status instead of degradation. Shakespeare's Othello has fascinated audiences for the past four centuries and will fascinate them for centuries more. But if you've ever wondered why modern attempts to "adapt" Shakespeare have been virtually forgotten a few short years after their release, O is the answer.

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.

I guess if this was a Shakespeare interpretation then I understand why everyone in the film was stupid. Of course this is a normal plot device for Shakespeare, but speaking as a person who did not make that Shakespeare connection, I hated this movie. If you are going to update Shakespeare you have to change it so it doesn't frustrate the heck out of the audience. Everyone in this film except the deceiver was stupid, aloof, and easily deceived. So as a critique of Shakespeare, his productions cannot be updated without insulting every character in the film. It cannot be updated without asking the audience to believe that people are very easy to deceive even today. At the end of this movie I had disdain for every character. The whole movie made no sense at all, I would have turned it off about 1/4 way through it, because it was insulting. I say, update Shakespeare in a creative way, but do not insult the audience with a modern interpretation without modern sensibilities. This movie sucked, but OK, it was just Shakespeare.

"'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