Rewind
“O” (2001)
“O” also known as “Othello” is a 2001 American romantic thriller film, and a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello, set in an American high school. It stars Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, and Josh Hartnett. It was directed by Tim Blake Nelson and written by Brad Kaaya. The film contains many different styles of music, ranging from rap to opera. It was filmed in Charleston, South Carolina in the spring of 1999. Originally intended for release for October 17, 1999, it was shelved following the Columbine High School massacre; O was finally released on August 31, 2001.
The film grossed $16 million at the United States box office, which was seen by distributor Lions Gate Films as a “box office success”. Screenwriter Brad Kaaya’s inspiration for the script came from Shakespeare’s Othello, “the spate of suburban school shootings that rocked the country in the 1980s”, and his own experiences as a black teenager attending a largely white private school. Tim Blake Nelson came across the script while filming Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line, and was offered the chance to direct based on his directorial debut Eye of God. Filming began in Charleston, South Carolina in early 1999 and wrapped that March. Dimension Films, a division of Miramax, acquired the film two days into principal photography Nelson received the offer to appear in O Brother, Where Art Thou? while he was making this film. The official release date was initially October 17, 1999, but was postponed following the Columbine High School massacre in April of that year. The delay was likely due to the film’s themes of sex and violence in high school, as suggested by its director.
The film was finally released theatrically on August 31, 2001. The film has received moderately positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 65% approval rating based on 124 reviews, with an average score of 6.1/10. On Metacritic, the film achieved an average score of 53 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, signifying “mixed or average reviews”
We grant “O” the Movieland seal of quality and highly recommend viewing.
For fans of: Romeo + Juliet.
