Critic Reviews

O (2001) Rank 3 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give O (2001) a score of 2.7563 out of 4
based on (168) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
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Reviews by Score:
O (2001) scores a combined 3.32 out of 4 stars for Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
To an astonishing degree, O gets the tragic Shakespeare mood, that somber stentorian passion born of hidden slivers of ambition and betrayal. ...read the complete O movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.28 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
"O" is a retelling of Shakespeare's "Othello" with modern dialogue and a high school basketball setting. To describe it makes it sound ridiculous: "Othello" and high school basketball -- a union of the grand and the inconsequential. But it's not close ...read the complete O movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie VoiceFilm Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Teacher: Can you name one of Shakespeare's poems Student: I thought he wrote movies. The makers of O know that they are not the only ones adapting Shakespeare for the screen, that this is not just a job for Kenneth Branagh anymore. Recently the ...read the complete O movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
O (2001) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
Recently there has been a big push in modernizing Shakespeare's plays, making them more hip and retelling a classic story to this and the next generation. This is the only reason I could come up with that they would make these films because not many of ...read the complete O movie review at Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
A very powerful, thoroughly depressing, well-acted "non-teen" movie starring a bunch of teens. Credit director Tim Blake Nelson for creating a modern day version of this Shakespearian classic, set in a realistic high school environment, with the ...read the complete O movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
O (2001) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)
Instead of banning things like this, we should be showing them; a movie like O could teach us all a lesson in humanity. ...read the complete O movie review at Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)
Skillfully reinventing Othello in a modern-day prep school, the only tragedy is that this powerful film fell into limbo in the aftermath of the Columbine incident. ...read the complete O movie review at MediaCircus (Anthony Leong)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
It is frightening how easily Shakespeare translates into a modern high school with its adolescent psychology, jealousies, pride, rumors, prejudices, and drive for approval. ...read the complete O movie review at Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.12 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Desson Howe)Washington Post (Desson Howe)
THERE WAS a good reason for pulling the movie "O" from distribution three years ago. At the time, the Columbine tragedy had just taken place. And the parallels were too close for comfort. The film, a modernized "Othello," culminated in fatal gunplay ...read the complete O movie review at Washington Post (Desson Howe)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.06 out of 4 stars for MovieFreak.com (Kelly Alvarado)MovieFreak.com (Kelly Alvarado)
Tim Blake Nelson (co-star of Oh Brother Where Art Thou) proves himself not only as a good actor as we’ve seen but a very capable director. The screenplay, written by Brad Kaaya, sets the story in a high school full of spoiled rich kids. I thought ...read the complete O movie review at MovieFreak.com (Kelly Alvarado)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Voir.ca (--)Voir.ca (--)
Puisqu'on ne sait plus quoi faire pour intéresser les jeunes à la grande littérature, alors on fait... n'importe quoi, du moment qu'on arrive à capter leur attention avec un rap bien soutenu et un terrain de basket-ball animé. Difficile à savoir si ...read the complete O movie review at Voir.ca (--)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
A worthy experiment, though far from a slamdunk. ...read the complete O movie review at Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Will must be chillin' and rappin' in his grave. ...read the complete O movie review at Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
As unflinchingly honest as any so-called 'teen' film to come out in ages...one of the most thought-provoking motion pictures of the year. ...read the complete O movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
Nelson's camera is subtle but insistent in how it views characters with darkness, pity and suspicion. Josh Hartnett doesn't need to overreach to evoke the heartlessness of Hugo, because the way Nelson makes note of him while he stays in the background ...read the complete O movie review at The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
By far the most successful modern-dress adaptation of a William Shakespeare work--and the rare teen-targeted film to have something of real substance to say. ...read the complete O movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Onion A.V. Club (Scott Tobias)The Onion A.V. Club (Scott Tobias)
Completed nearly three years ago, Tim Blake Nelson's O, a provocative modernization of Shakespeare's Othello, was in the editing process when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire on Columbine High School. In the rush to account for the incident, ...read the complete O movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Scott Tobias)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Edward Johnson-OttEdward Johnson-Ott
Talk about bad timing "O," which transplants Shakespeare's "Othello" to a modern US high school, was scheduled for release two years ago. But then some twisted boys in the real world went to school and shot their classmates and teachers. Suddenly, a ...read the complete O movie review at Edward Johnson-Ott
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
Its beauty is in the seamless transformation of a hundreds-of-years-old story to a 21st century setting, aided by capable performances. ...read the complete O movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
O has one advantage over "Othello" -- since it's a new movie, not a classic, it has the power to surprise. ...read the complete O movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
The filmmakers have a vision of the way Shakespeare can be made vibrant and vital to modern viewers, with or without the lofty original dialogue. ...read the complete O movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
This is a serious and well-acted drama, not a jokey ripoff, whose relevance (however distant) to Columbine is a plus. ...read the complete O movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
A good film for most of the way, and then a powerful film at the end, when, in the traditional Shakespearean manner, all of the plot threads come together, the victims are killed, the survivors mourn, and life goes on. ...read the complete O movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Film Gazette (Veronica Mixon)Film Gazette (Veronica Mixon)
A heartfelt and powerful tale of jealousy for teens! ...read the complete O movie review at Film Gazette (Veronica Mixon)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for USA Today (Claudia Puig)USA Today (Claudia Puig)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ToxicUniverse.com (John Scalzo)ToxicUniverse.com (John Scalzo)
But for all its holes, O still manages to entertain during its 95 minute runtime. The performances are all top ...read the complete O movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (John Scalzo)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
When it's all over, one must wonder what all the fuss was about. The finale has no similarities to the Columbine killings, except that it involves teens shooting each other, and it's certainly not the first movie to do that. Its message -- hinted at ...read the complete O movie review at The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine) (Gina Carbone)Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine) (Gina Carbone)
O, that this too, too solid film would mesh, thaw and resolve itself with the Bard. ...read the complete O movie review at Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine) (Gina Carbone)
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ShowBIZ DataShowBIZ Data
Lions Gate Films presents a film directed by Tim Blake Nelson. Written by Brad Kaaya, based on the play ''Othello'' by William Shakespeare. Running time: 95 minutes. Rated R (for violence, a scene of strong sexuality, language and drug use). Opening ...read the complete O movie review at ShowBIZ Data
O (2001) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Well, all good classics eventually come to a crashing end (Planet of the Apes, anyone?), and the works of Shakespeare are no exception. This time out, it's Othello that gets an urban/teen makeover -- and considering that Slick Willy's themes about the ...read the complete O movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.89 out of 4 stars for Tiscali UKTiscali UK
"Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again..." So laments Shakespeare's much abused Moor, Othello, as he chews on the rumours of his beloved Desdemona's infidelity. ...read the complete O movie review at Tiscali UK
O (2001) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Essential to the success it manages is Hartnett's low-key, charismatic performance -- cool, withholding, compelling. The triumph of his insinuating Hugo/Iago is how plausible he is, how he manages to convincingly inject poison in so many minds without ...read the complete O movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for Ross Anthony's Hollywood Report CardRoss Anthony's Hollywood Report Card
All perform well, especially Julia Stiles who continues to impress me (and many others) with her acting abilities. She definitely seems to be on her way to becoming one of America's most respected actors. More about Julia below: Tight filming and ...read the complete O movie review at Ross Anthony's Hollywood Report Card
O (2001) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Long on the Shelf, O is well directed and decently acted, but its narrative, while more or less faithful to Shakespeare, tried to do too much, pushing the characters and their emotions to unreasonable and unconvincing extremes. ...read the complete O movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Stripped of its poetry, some of the devices of the tragedy of the Moor come off here as woefully contrived. ...read the complete O movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
What O lacks is a sense of spontaneity: Despite its contemporary dialogue and manner, the movie can't overcome a nagging aura of artifice. ...read the complete O movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for That Cow (B. Kiefer)That Cow (B. Kiefer)
Recently, I've watched three movies - O, The Bourne Identity, and The Shipping News. Not thematically related, these movies have made me think about the screenplay. Taking an idea inherited from someone else and transferring it to film. ...read the complete O movie review at That Cow (B. Kiefer)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
That’s too bad. Tragedy in art is good for the soul. It’s a reminder that life is not completely under our control. Humans have a dark side that is worthy of exploration in healthy forms of expression. ...read the complete O movie review at Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
William Shakespeare's plays have been adapted in so many ways on stage and screen that Tim Blake Nelson's O, which finds Othello reimagined in the world of an exclusive Southern prep school, doesn't seem particularly radical or imaginative. It is a ...read the complete O movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for Apollo Guide (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)Apollo Guide (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
I was reminded of the difference as I left a regular showing of O, surrounded by a crowd of young women who were sorting out their response to this modern-day version of Shakespeare’s Othello. The group closest to me included about half a dozen ...read the complete O movie review at Apollo Guide (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
O (2001) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for Palo Alto Online (Susan Tavernetti)Palo Alto Online (Susan Tavernetti)
Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles and Andrew Keegan in O.Supremely stylish and uncomfortably threatening, this Shakespearean-based, teens-on-the-edge composition is sure to find a core audience among late-adolescent thrill-seekers. Colorado's Columbine High ...read the complete O movie review at Palo Alto Online (Susan Tavernetti)
 
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O (2001)

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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
2.8275
O (2001) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
2.7563
O (2001) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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