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The First Version Of Othello In Which It Really Made Me Weep

Students often ask me why I choose this version of Othello. Shakespeare's text is strongly truncated and the film contains material which earned it an "R" rating.I have several reasons for using this production: First, I had not seen a depiction of the Moor that actually made me sympathetic to Othello until I saw Fishburne play him. I saw James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer play Othello and Iago on Broadway, and it was wonderful. Plummer's energy was especially noticeable. But in spite of Jone's incredible presence both physically and vocally, the character he played just seemed too passive to illicit from me a complete emotional purgation in the Aristotelian sense. Jones, in fact, affirmed what I felt when in an interview he noted that he had played Othello as passive--seeing Iago as basically doing him over. Unfortunately this sapped my grief for the character destruction. Thus, I felt sympathy for Jone's Moor but not the horror over his corruption by an evil man. In contrast, Fishburne's Othello is a strong and vigorous figure familiar with taking action. Thus, Iago's temptation to actively deal with what is presented to Othello as his wife's unfaithfulness is a perversion of the general's positive quality to be active not passive.1 The horror of the story is that this good quality in Othello becomes perverted. Fishburne's depiction is therefore classically tragic.Second, Fishburne is the first black actor to play Othello in a film. Both Orsen Wells and Anthony Hopkins did fine film versions, but they were white men in black face.2 Why is this important? Why should a Black actor be the Black man on the stage?3 Certainly in Shakespeare's day they used black face just as they used boys to make girls. Perhaps then, the reason is the same. Female actors bring a special quality to female roles on the Shakespearian stage because they understand best what Shakespeare's genius was trying to present. A gifted black actor should play the moor because his experience in a white dominated culture is vital to understanding what Shakespeare's genius recognized: the pain of being marginalized because of race. An important theme in Othello is isolation caused by racism. Although it is a mistake to insert American racism into a Shakespearian play, there can be little doubt that racism is still working among the characters. Many, including Desdimona's father, think that a union between a Venetian white Christian woman and a North African black Christian man is UNNATURAL.Third, Shakespeare was never G rated. He never has been. His stage productions were always typified by violence and strong language. But Shakespeare's genius uses these elements not as sensationialism but for artistic honesty.

Brilliant adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tale of crookedness and jealousy

I claim no matter how hard I seek I'll never find a better movie version of "Othello". If you love Kenneth Branagh's magnificent masterpieces "Much ado about nothing" (1993) and "Hamlet" (1996) as much as I do I'm dead certain you'll also find Oliver Parker's "Othello" irresistible. Laurence Fishburne has been in a various splendid roles during his career. He was quite terrific in "Boys n the hood" (1991) - I've always considered his amusing role of Furious Styles as his very greatest achievement. That was, of course, way before I saw this.He plays the part of Othello and he is probably in the most challenging role of his whole career but he does a brilliant, fantastic job. Irène Jacob is absolutely charming Desdemona and Kenneth Branagh is just simply phenomenal in a most fascinating role of the story's crooked, manipulate villain Iago. Marvelous "Othello" is part of the absolute elite among Shakespeare's ingenious works. It deals with his favorite topics: crookedness, envy, deceitfulness and jealousy. This movie adaptation is certainly one of the finest films I've seen that's based on William Shakespeare's plays.

Finally a black Moor...Mr. William would have been pleased

For his directorial debut Oliver Parker has chosen a great cast: the always incredible Laurence Fishburn as Othello, and the famous Shakespearean "maniac" Kenneth Branagh as Iago. Like Laurence Olivier, Branagh is another talanted actor, whose name is forever linked to the name of William Shakespeare in the movie industry. However, it's Fishburn who truly carries the film on his shoulders. His portrayal of Othello, with all that mixture of love and hate, devotion and betrayal, passion and intense jealousy, growing slowly into paranoia, makes a deep impression and a strong understanding of who Othello truly was. A very good interpretation of the Shakespearean classic standing in a row with Olivier's, Welles' and Bondarchuk's Othellos with one very major plus - finally a black Othello...

Look to your wife

This is a dark version of a dark play. Not just in feel and drama, but in setting. I believe only a scene or two is filmed in the daylight. The bulk of this film takes place in the dank cellars, the dark of night and the closed bedrooms where intrigue and guile rule the day.

This is an unusual Shakespeare adaptation, in that nothing funky is being done with it. There is no twist in the time setting, no song and dance, no Italian wonderment. It is about as straight of an adaptation as I have seen. Being this, it lacks any distinction or special genius, but it is quite an able piece of film.

Laurence Fishburn is a great Othello, delivering the lines and slipping under Iago's silver spell. He lacks a certain aura of strength generally associated with Othello, but is otherwise excellent. Kenneth Branagh is a superior Iago, and this may be one of the best performances he has given. He plays an excellent villain, and his performance is the one bright flare in the the film. The dialog is well done, staying with Branagh's conversational style. The rest of the cast are all capable players, easily recognizable from the Shakespeare on film stable.

All in all, I really enjoy this film. It is not a work of genius. It is not amazing. But it is an excellent, workman like filmed version of a difficult play and a worthy edition to any Shakespeare on film collection.

not enough

This film is violent, prurient, and exploitative. It is unjust. It is needed that a great actor should be Iago, but here in this perfect performance from Kenneth Branagh, we are abused. We are shorted our Othello. The camera lingers on handsome Iago, catches his every thought - but the Moor is more a distant spectacle, meted more thriftily the camera's time and the microphone's. We see him feast, dance, fight, consummate his vows, but we don't get the Promethean heat. Our hero is tormented by salacious visions, unnecessary, over-long, and ineffective. Fishburne is obviously comfortable with Shakespeare and capable of the range of emotions, but he stays too aloof, too formal. He is most tormented by the mere idea of Desi's disloyalty, tbe matter of proof and of her more incriminating acts are de-emphasized, and doubt (of Iago) holds no place. All pathos is Desdemona's and much of hers taken, too. The music is quite good, including Iago's and Desi's songs. Roderigo and Cassio well done. Desdemona has an annoying accent and too much of a single look - very young and innocent. Emilia quite good. The whole doesn't hold together. I love Branagh, I think Fishburne could do better, but Orson Welles is still the standard for Othello, piteous, subtle, a man driven by irresistible suggestion, whereas Fishburne seems willingly to go along, and kills more violently than gently and regretfully. Perhaps it is an unwhitewashed Othello...

Wonderfully dark and full of intrigue...

I studied Othello for my English Lit A-Level last year, and found it simply one of the most wonderful plays I've ever read - painfully compelling, in that the story is so terrible and tragic that it hurts to read it, yet you just cannot put it down. The language is some of Shakespeare's most complex, yet when understood, also some of the most eloquent and beautiful ever written.The film had a lot to live up to.(This may contain plot spoilers.)In my opinion, Fishburne was an excellent Othello - brooding, jealous, suspicious, in anguish - everything I expected. He spoke the lines well and had great presence. Irene Jacob as Desdemona wasn't such a powerful character, but then was never intended to be - even in the play she was depicted as weak, although she does have her stronger characteristics, she is inherently not one of the most important or complex characters.No, for me it was, as always, Branagh, who stole the show. A wonderfully chilling performance, which left me convinced that Iago was possibly the most evil villain I have come across in any of Shakespeare's works. He shows no remorse, no emotion, but simply calculation and cruelty. He plots evil for evil's sake, and Branagh portrayed this very well. If you watch it, it's in his eyes, the way he looks at the others and at the camera - it ranges from impassivity to pure, unadulterated evil. Iago is not simply a "baddie" - he is a "demi-devil", fuelled by nothing more than the desire to harm others. Iago seems to have no real motive, although several are given (jealousy of Othello and Desdemona, racism, hatred of Othello, anger of being passed over for promotion etc etc), but I believe that he is not intended to have a motive - he is evil simply because that is his way, and he needs no motive.Some people have criticised the film for not showing enough of Desdemona and Othello together, or that it seems odd that Iago has so much hatred for Othello and that his plan culminates so quickly. This is from the Shakespeare, where the concept of "double time" is used. There are two time frames, it seems, in the play, which is hard to put across in a film, but which I think worked well enough that I wasn't bothered by it. It all happens in a few days, in one time frame, but we get the impression that it takes far longer than this. This is difficult to get your head around, but it does make some kind of sense. :) Anyway, they couldn't have added bits in without adding to Shakespeare's lines, and I'd rather they didn't do that. :)Overall, a very good film adaptation of a wonderfully moving and disturbing play. I highly recommend it.

Not the best OTHELLO.

Othello in fast forward ! No softer moments, no time to savor the dialouge and very little real emotion. Branagh is in fine form and lifts the production beyond the mediocre. Fishburne is a good actor but illicits no sympathy for his Othello and Irene Jacob is a total waste as Desdemona
she did not even seem to know what she was saying!) Oliver Parker redeemed himself with IDEAL HUSBAND but Othello is a take it or leave it adaptation.

Despite Branagh, one of the best; a must-see!!!

Dark and moody, this adaptation of Shakespeare's tale of betrayal and revenge is a must-see for those who think Shakespeare is dated and inaccessible to today's film. They should be proven wrong with this endeavour. Oliver Parker's vision of homoeroticism and the trappings of masculinity transfers easily on-screen, with the help of the wonderful Laurence Fishburne as one of filmdom's best Othellos.After watching Welles and Olivier in their performances as a black-faced Moor, Fishburne is a breath of fresh air, and comes across as the first actor who has ever portrayed Othello's truth on-screen. Fishburne plays subtext wonderfully, playing out the very real human flaws that are rooted in ego and pride that make Othello a haunting and complex character. Irene Jacob is Desdemona as a sensual force drawn into a powerful sexual relationship with a dangerous man. The love scenes between Othello and Desdemona - scenes Shakespeare could only fantasize about - are haunting with their near-mysticism and erotica. Very effective.One of the hidden gems of this film is Anna Patrick's very powerful performance as Iago's wife Emilia. This wonderful actress gives Emilia the power and complexity of personality that it needs to encourage examination of Shakespeare's commentary on women in this play.The only downside to this wonderful film is the casting of Kenneth Branagh in the role of Iago. If anyone imagines Shakespeare's ultimate villain as a dark and serpentine presence, they will be disappointed in Branagh's performance. Fair-haired and playing "British-boarding-school-mommy's-boy," Branagh is a strange choice for the role of Iago. His sporadic asides with the audience are more satirical than serious, forced than innovative. His handling of Shakespearian dialogue is characteristically academic and not personable enough. Fishburne is living the part, whereas Branagh reads it. However, if you want to consider Iago as an effeminate and baby-faced schemer who has major issues about his masculinity, then Branagh is your man.An erotic and dark rendering of one of Shakespeare's most famous works, Oliver Parker's OTHELLO is definitely worth the time for its direction, its unique interpretation, and Laurence Fishburne, who makes Othello into one of the most dangerous and masculine sexual presences on film.

Branagh and Fishburne are Superb!

Branagh is the modern day master of Shakespearian plays with yet another outstanding addition to his already abundant collection of Shakespear adaptations. Fishburne is again excellent in this challenging part as he always lives up to my expectations. I can't believe these two guys haven't won an Oscar yet. Definitely a must movie for any of their fans as well as Shakespear lovers abound.

Great Adaptation--Wonderful Cast

I am confused with many of the editorial reviews on the site. This incarnation of Othello is, in my mind, nearly perfect. Sure, it can't encapsulate everything Shakespeare intended, but it stays true to his themes of jealousy, obsession and power, and featured fantastic acting and production values.

What can I say about Othello that hasn't already been said in dozens of dissertations already? As one of the "big four" (Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello) it has remained a benchmark for tragedies for centuries. Some people might scoff at the film's intent to make Shakespeare accessible to the lay viewer, but it truly doesn't hurt the story or interfere with Shakespeare's always delightful prose. In short, the movie outperforms any preconceived notions one might have.

The cast is wonderful. A pre-Matrix Lawrence Fishburne stars as the Moor, Irene Jakob as Desdemona, and the infallible Kenneth Branaugh as Iago, Shakespeare's most complex and calculating villain. Often in Shakespeare plays, the villain is more interesting than the hero, and that is certainly true here. Branaugh steals every scene he is in with his coldly malevolent performance, and his asides to the audience are drenched in dread and rage. One can nearly pity the man, he comes off as so tortured. It is perhaps the best performance I've ever seen out of an actor, period. Fishburne was pretty much a nobody when the film was made, but that doesn't stop him from holding his own with Brannaugh and churning out the iambic pentameter. He hits his marks very well and is very convincing when it comes to acting with passion. Irene Jakob is not necessarily the choice I would have made for Desdemona. I would have chosen someone with a more coquettish personality. However, the fact that her loyalty is beyond question actually enhances the story by showing how obviously and irrationally jealous Othello becomes.

The production is first-rate. The sets, sounds, costumes, etc. are fantastic. One really gets a you-are-there feeling (as corny as that sounds) by watching the movie. After overstylized (and awful) postmodern Shakespeare interpretations, it is refreshing to see the world as Shakespeare himself envisioned it.

Unfortunately, the approach to involve the lay person does have a single weakness, and that is the excessive sexuality. Can we just take it at someone's word that people are deeply in love and leave something to the imagination? Sexing up Shakespeare (no pun intended) in this way just seems purely sensational, the only really problematic aspect in the film.

There are those who would call Shakespeare the greatest writer and thinker in history and there are those who would call him a hack. Thankfully, those of us in the first category can enjoy this olive branch to the second. Truly entertaining and important, and with a respect for its source and its audience, this Othello is hard to beat.

Shakespeare for beginners

I like the full versions of Shakespeare on film and will happily put in the effort for the reward. However I do like the cut versions (Richard III, Romeo & Juliet etc), yes they are for the short of attention MTV generation, but is that a bad thing?It's good to get a new generation into these plays. In this version Brannagh gives an effortless performance (he can do shakespeare in his sleep) and Fishburne is great as the main character tortured by the betrayal and lack of honour of those around him.(although at times i was listening for the "Shaft" theme song - he did play it a bit street-tuff at time!).A cut version yes, but it looks beautiful and is more accesible than other versions.

The Wickedness of Iago

This version of Othello is excellently done. The choice of actors is tantalizing, the stage, set by the hand of a masterful Shakespearean director, adds fresh breath to an old script, and the portrayl of Iago by Kenneth Branagh is enough to keep you glued in your chair. Laurence Fishburne is a wonderful choice for Othello. He is graceful, and stunningly beautiful even as he is forced into epelectic fits by the scheming Iago. The combintations of actors portray this film so that even a child could understand what was going on (although it is a very adult content.) The scenes and costuming are superb. A realistic stage is set in the Mediterranean, of earth tones and golden blends that set the mood for a beautiful story. After all of that though, the portrayl of Iago is the best part. He is almost likable through his evilness, and it is all because of Kenneth Branagh. The audience can tell that he has fun in this role and it sets the whole stage on fire. I thouroghly enjoyed this film, even through my tears. I could watch it a hundred times and not loose intrest.

othello review by bp walker

Excellent performances made available to me. A better brochure or written introduction would have been helpful.

Ally 's Othello Review

I am very new to shakespeare a friend of mine has introduced it to me only recently, I have to say however this was one of the best films i have seen i a long time.I'm not one to be very enthusiastic about things but it really made an impact on me and I've watched it several times over. Kenneth Brannagh was the best villian ever and lawerance fishbourne broke my heart !! I would recommend it to anyone. :)

Go with another version

This is one of the worst adaptations of Shakespeare yet done for the big screen. The script is completely butchered and the direction is more reminiscent of an MTV video than of Shakespeare. Irene Jacob can't really speak english all that well, so the performance is completely lost, and Brannagh gets just a little too full of himslef. Try another version. Please. The Bard was never meant to look this bad. Especially not for one of his greatest works.

Dark, Tragic, and Beautifully Shot

You do not get more dark or tragic than "Othello" and this movie captures the play fairly well, with outstanding performances by Lawrence Fishburne and Irene Jacob. Fishburne's expresses to the viewer Othello's torment as he falls prey to Iago's lies very convincingly, even providing a realistic epileptic episode. Jacob is the loving and loyal wife who becomes either the instrument of Iago's revenge against Othello, or the object of his wrath (it is not clear which since no motive for Iago's behavior is offered).
Although Kenneth Brannagh (sp?) displays his usual talent for Shakespeare in this movie, he is somewhat marginalized. The characters of Cassio and Emilia also wander in and out of scenes even though they, like Iago, seem more crucial to the plot. I have not checked the movie against the play to see how many lines were cut out, but I know that Shakespeare tends to develop his characters, even the seemingly unimportant ones, very well.If I had any criticism of the movie it would be that the story unfolds too quickly, and that the relationships between some of the characters are not laid out more. The director had a great cast, and no one offered a bad performance. The relationship between Cassio and Othello and that between Emilia and Desdemona need to be further developed earlier in the film. I have a feeling that they were closer to each other than the movie suggests, although you get a sense of this very late into the movie. Also, Othello and Desdemona need more time together. Although their anguish is convincing, the amount of interaction they have with each other makes it seem like they just met. On the other hand, maybe the did just meet---like Romeo and Juliet.In brief: good performances, too short.

The movie gave a modernization to the original play.

The movie gave me a better perception of the play Othello because it is visual. with books you have to imagine and figure out really what the person is thinking. In the movie the peoples expressions explain it all.

Beautifully crafted film!

I rented this film mainly to see Kenneth Branagh once again, but was totally surprised by the entire cast, especially Laurence Fishbourne who portrayed Othello brilliantly. The dignified, regal Fishbourne transforms Othello into a tragic figure with restraint, control and believability. It was also an added surprise to see two actors from Brahagh's Hamlet: Michael Maloney and Nicholas Farrel. And any film with Nathaniel Parker is a pleasure. Branagh brought a depth to Iago that I hadn't seen before, especially during the scene on the beach when he and Othello hug. Iago in tears? And then again at the final scene. Iago was evil, yes, but for an actor to find a few moments to make him human -that's when the audience knows something extraordinary has happened on stage or screen. See this film.

An entertaining 80 minutes

It was a richly entertaining movie. It kept me captivated throughout the entire film. A famous play turned into a romantic thrill ride.By the end I found myself yelling in frustration at the characters on the television screen. I highly recommend it to any Shakespear fan.

othello a-ok

Fishburne, Branagh, and the other actors are brilliant-as usual. The action was well presented, and the costumes are very well done. The only thing I didn't like was the few times the director chose to switch around the words, putting things where they're not supposed to be. In school, we are encouraged to read along to something like this, and that is impossible to do so when it changes from the book version. But I shouldn't carp on the negative when there is so much positive. If you like Shakespeare, please buy this movie! If you hate the Bard of Stratford, buy it anyway. You'll be surprised.