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Othello (1995)

Rate: 1
Viewed: 12/12

Oth
12/12: I'm going to say it straight up: the works of William Shakespeare as exactly written are unfilmable.

The English language has improved a lot over time to the point where people can say things clearly that are instantly comprehensible to the listeners' ears wihout requiring too much effort. But the words put together by Shakespeare to flow naturally isn't possible through modern acting. There's always a feeling of tripping, pausing, and/or puzzlement in the minds of thespians. Hence, it's at once hard and boring to watch these films, and Othello is one of them.

Only if the language can be made more clear, the struggling readers, who are forced by their dreadful high school English teachers, will finally understand what the hell it is Shakespeare was talking about. But no...they have to retort to footnotes, Cliff's notes, and/or paid-off tutors to do the class for them, so they can move on with their lives and hope to never touch his stuff again.

Now, let's take a look at Othello. The biggest struggle is the language. The first thing one will say is: "What the fuck is going on?" Well, I'm on everybody's side. It gets progressively worse thereafter because the entire film is going to be like that. Because I've seen over two thousand movies, Othello is as bad as it gets. Look at any great film: the players are natural through their actions as they speak. But not in this. Speaking is a challenge for everybody as there's a clear detachment going on. Nobody is able to focus on anything but the words.

Hence, acting has become a chore for many in the ensemble. The challenge of working with the Shakespearean language takes everything away from the plot. None of the characters is real to me. On the contrary, I saw O, the teenage makeover version of Othello, and was impressed with how it was done. The acting felt more believable and realistic, and the story was almost, more or less, the same as the original. So, why did the film work better? They made it modern and relatable! It's simple as that.

All in all, Othello is painful to sit through.