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A Film Review by Paul Perkins

Cast: Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Martin Sheen, Rain Phoenix
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Producers: Eric Gitter, Anthony Rhulen, Dan Fried
Screenplay: Brad Kaaya
Rated: R Running Time: 90 Mins Studio: Lions Gate Seen at: Ritz 5 Philadelphia 8-13-01 More Film info: Click Here Official Website: Click Here Pictures: Click Here Sound Formats:

Not That Bad Reworking Of A Classic

This not a movie about cheerios.. This is a Modern Reworking of William Shakespeare’s Othello set in a high school. For Odin James (Mekhi Phifer) he is the leader of his high school basketball team. With hopes of becoming a NBA player he is also the only African American student in his school.

Odin likes all the attention he gets from his classmates and his girlfriend Desi Brable (Julia Stiles) who is the daughter of the dean of his school Palmetto Groove Academy. One of his best friends is Hugo Goulding (Josh Hartnett) who is a starting forward on the tem and his father coach Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen) is the coach of the team. But Hugo is not the best friend Odin thinks he is. Because he is very jegeouls of Odin and he figures he has to try and strip all the fame from Odin Has at no cost. He seeks to manipulate those around him as it prompts Odin to throw away all that he cares about most. The Woman he loves, His Bright Future, His Very Soul.

O was not a bad movie it had a point to the film but it took a while to get to it. Let me tell you why.

Good

1. The idea of the film was good. Granted we have seen a lot of Othello films before. This is a nice change for the newer generation.

2. The cast was ok. Josh Harnett was a good villain, which is a different role for him. Esp. in his last couple of films. Julia Stills and Mekhi Phifer were good in their part. I did have one bad thing to say about the acting details below.

3. The Basketball Scenes were good. If you are a Basketball fans you will like those scenes.

4. The music was good it mixes R&B and Rap.

5. The ending was a good and powerful ending.

Bad

In couple of scenes Mekhi did not act to good in his part.
The film was delayed 2 years because of the tragedy at Colinbind High school. But to be honest this film s not that violence as I though it would be. They could have release it then.
The start of the film actually the first hour nothing happen it was so plain. The last 3o mins are where everything takes place and the film gets good.

Overall O was not that bad of a new version of Othello. This is a film that the new generation can relate to and understand the characters in the film. The film is worth the price of admission go see it today.

The King's Room