Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 12, 2026 2/4

Director Tim Blake Nelson and writer Brad Kaaya try to connect the movie to the ever-present dilemma of school violence, but in the process, they have stripped the Bard’s tale of its power.

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 7, 2022 B+

The movie is classy and dead serious, but it may not meet with the approval of either Shakespeare die-hards or teen audiences. For the rest of us, though, it works.

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Richard Luck Film4 Jul 6, 2008 2.5/5

The presence of old lags Martin Sheen and John Heard just beggars belief. What were they thinking?

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David Ansen Newsweek Mar 31, 2008

This arty melodrama is not likely to make teenage America get down with Shakespeare.

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Philip French Observer (UK) Mar 25, 2008

It's highly enjoyable and well acted, with the Iago figure better motivated than in the original play, no single line of which has been retained except for the odd echo.

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Todd McCarthy Variety Mar 25, 2008

This transferral of the tragedy of the Moor to a contempo American high school is something that never should have gone further than a class assignment to see if it could be made to work.

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Ed Kelleher Film Journal International Mar 1, 2007

Helmer Nelson has fashioned a clever premise, helped along by a smart ensemble that manages to highlight Shakespeare's work without parodying it--no small accomplishment.

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Alan Morrison Empire Magazine Dec 30, 2006 4/5

Hartnett never allows him to become a hissable villain, keeping Hugo shy of our sympathies, yet his every move is utterly believable.

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Sep 17, 2006 C+

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.

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Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Sep 1, 2006 3/4

Overall, the movie seems very thoughtfully crafted as a commentary both on high school and the state of modern society.

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Ross Williams Film Threat Jan 9, 2006 3.5/5

A well crafted and thoughtful film.

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Wilson Morales BlackFilm.com May 13, 2003

Let the film stand on its own and not amiss controversy.

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Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Mar 10, 2003 1.5/5

An intriguing experiment on paper, but a throwaway onscreen.

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jan 10, 2003 2.5/4

While O does contain some good performances and a creative sense of direction by Tim Blake Nelson, the film never really becomes anything more than a curiosity.

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Rebecca Murray About.com Dec 17, 2002 B

The film's top acting kudos go to Mekhi Phifer.

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Matthew Turner ViewLondon Oct 30, 2002 4/5

This is definitely worth watching, thanks to the performances and Nelson's direction.

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Jean Lowerison San Diego Metropolitan Oct 21, 2002

I am happy to report that O does not do violence to, nor dumb down, its important themes.

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Margaret A. McGurk Cincinnati Enquirer Oct 15, 2002 3.5/4

Othello may be the saddest of all Shakespeare's tragedies, and O captures its power in the storm-tossed emotions of modern teens.

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian Oct 2, 2002 2/5

Perhaps overaware of its solemn literary inheritance, it tiptoes around sex and race, and, in turning Shakespeare's grown-ups into Dawson's Creek teens, jettisons much of the original's grandeur.

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