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This Shakespearen tragedy set to a Y2K prep basketball context was originally slated for release shortly after the Columbine shootings, but was delayed due to its “too close to reality” theme of students inflicting violence on other students. Julia Stiles plays a similar role here to her bright young star student in an inter-racial relationship performance in Save The Last Dance. While STLD played out its drama in an urban public school, this version of Othello is surrounded with the decidedly different social setting of a private school. Maybe the pettiness of spoiled rotten teens makes it easier to believe the extreme dramatic emotions portrayed, but it’s still hard to fathom the depths of depravity our character Hugo (Josh Hartnett) displays. These grandeous theatrics are easily the film’s biggest weakness. If you know nothing of Shakespeare or his classic Othello, then the movie is less enjoyable and falls to average status. However, in the same way that having a foreknowlege of Homer’s Iliad added depth to viewing O Brother, Where Art Thou, screenplay writer Brad Kaaya made this adaptation delightful to follow (the character name updates of Desi, Odin, Hugo, Emily being only part of this puzzle). Two discs bring a load of extras, from a director’s commentary, deleted scenes, cast interviews, and even the 1922 classic silent film Othello in its entirety. It’s a shame this film didn’t get its just big-time release buzz, for it deserves kudos, but only drama teachers would dream of considering this a true, ageless triumph. [ Lions Gate / Doug Van Pelt ]
Ratings:
Obscenities : 117
Scenes of Violence : 03
Nude Scenes : .99
% spiritual relevancy : 25
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