On O List of Movie Reviews
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O (2001)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
12/12, 5/19
12/12:
The Most Controversial Movie of the Year?
Absolutely. O is certainly The Last Picture Show of this generation. When
the Texas film was made, the issues weren't violence-based or melodramatic. It was searching for a meaningful place in their society.
But in O, the issues are so blown out of proportion that violence is warranted to resolve them. In reality, that's
how teenagers solve problems today. It's the chief reason why it's a remarkable film.
The acting holds up well, and even the invariably terrible actor Josh Hartnett manages to turn in the performance of
his career. Why his character did it is plain and clear.
All in all, O is the best modern Shakespeare adaptation on film.
5/19:
Now, that's how all Shakespeare film adaptations should be done.
Armed with modern language and highly relatable human drama, O is a well-done remake of Othello with an
intelligent plot that's chess-like. The ending is powerful and unforgettable. I wonder who or what the coach was crying
for: his star basketball player, his son, or his future basketball plans.
The performances are excellent. I normally hate Josh Hartnett, but this is the one I'll forgive him for because he's
so good. He put in a lot of effort in spite of his scant acting skills to make the character (Hugo for Iago)
work.
All in all, I wish Hollywood will stop using Old English in Shakespeare films so they can finally be relatable for the
modern audience.