O is a 2001 American drama film, and a loose modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello, set in an American high school. It stars Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles and Josh Hartnett.
The film's intended release date was April 1999, but due to the Columbine High School massacre, the film was shelved for two years by its original distributor, Miramax Films. Ultimately, it was sold along with director Kevin Smith's film Dogma to Lionsgate. It was directed by Tim Blake Nelson and written by Brad Kaaya. It contains many different styles of music, ranging from rap to opera. It was filmed in Charleston, South Carolina.
During a high school basketball game, Odin James (Phifer) scores the basket that wins the game for his team. Later at an awards ceremony, the coach, Duke Goulding (Martin Sheen) presents the MVP award to Odin for his efforts, an award he shares with his teammate Michael Cassio (Andrew Keegan). In giving Odin the award, Duke passes over his son Hugo (Hartnett), Odin's teammate and best friend. At a party celebrating the victory, Hugo plans with school outcast Roger Calhoun (Elden Henson) to go to the school's dean, Bob Brable (John Heard) and tell him that Odin raped his daughter, Desi (Stiles), whom Odin has been dating. Hugo promises Roger that Desi will be his after Odin is out of the way, but Roger is only a pawn in Hugo's ultimate plan to destroy Odin.
Oh, I just don't get it, can't seem to make sence.
I got some jumbled up thoughts
in my jumbled up head.
I keep stumbling around on some jumbled up legs.
I keep grumbling out some jumbled up text.
Holding up both sides on the side of the road.
Holding up your store,
holding up your home.
With the evening news of filth and wounds.
A picket and a funeral on Sunday afternoon.
Oh, that light shines bright in your eyes.
You gotta find your confidence,
learn your lines.
Pick your class, pick your crime.
Better take a breath, take it quick.
Cause it's piling up,yeah, the layer's getting thick.
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time.
Alligator skin.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Rubber-necking.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Trash pilling.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
When it's all so boring, 99 cents.
Up in your face,
you know they got it.
Got a plastic stacked on cheap bank cube.
A perfect place for them
to hang their noose.
And everyone's got a buy and they
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk talk,
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it.
And they draw some line and
make some point.
Which way is right.
And,oh, I just can't seem to find the time and the
light that shines bright in your eyes.
Alligator skin.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Rubber-necking.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Trash pilling.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Alligator skin.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Rubber-necking.
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is.
Trash piling.
Oh yeah, you know how it's gotta be.
Oh No!
Yeah, it's gotta be.
Oh No!
That's how it's gotta be.
That's how it's gotta be.