‘O’ delivers serious snapshot of today’s teens

In theaters

O, directed by Tim Blake Nelson, written by Brad Kaaya, based on William Shakespeare’s “Othello.” 91 minutes. Rated R.

Nearly two years ago, when Tim Blake Nelson’s “O” was shelved by Miramax Studios in reaction to the murders at Columbine High School, the film began a long and arduous journey to the screen – one that now, in retrospect, seems especially silly and unnecessary.

Loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Othello,” the film is the Bard for the hip-hop set. It follows its inspiration’s framework and builds to a considerable body count, but unlike so many Hollywood films, it doesn’t take its violence lightly or, for that matter, use it as a means for pure popcorn entertainment.

Instead, Nelson, working from a screenplay by Brad Kaaya, uses his film to deliver a serious, often provocative snapshot of today’s teens, a good deal of whom will undoubtedly identify with the film’s characters – not to mention with its themes of jealousy, love, betrayal, acceptance and rage – in ways that people like Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut senator currently moving ahead in his attempt to censor Hollywood, don’t want to admit.

In the film, Mekhi Phifer is Odin James, a gifted black athlete recruited by an all-white Southern prep school to revive its flagging basketball team. With skill and determination, Odin does just that, but not without infuriating Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the team’s former star and allegedly one of Odin’s closest friends.

Hugo’s problem? His father (Martin Sheen) is the school’s basketball coach, a man so overcome with Odin’s talent, he publicly admits to loving him like a son – all while increasingly behaving as if Hugo, his real son (and the film’s Iago character), doesn’t exist.

For Hugo, the relationship is unforgivable. Consumed with jealousy, he plots to destroy Odin, a plan that’s so diabolic, it will eventually force Odin to question those who matter most in his life – from his girlfriend, Desi (Julia Stiles), to his best friend, Michael (Andrew Keegan).

In spite of a clunky start, “O” hits its stride midway through to become a film of unusual power, a movie that dares to question what it means to be a student in today’s high schools. If its answers make some feel uncomfortable because they skate too close to the truth, more power to Nelson. It’s been a while since a movie aimed at teens went beyond mere scat jokes to seriously and honestly consider the very real pressures placed on today’s students.

Why was the film kept from audiences? Are we unable to understand its themes without being driven to violence ourselves? As ridiculous as that conceit is, it’s nevertheless one reason the film was shelved for so long. Another reason is that some believed releasing the film so close to the Columbine murders would disrespect those who died in the shooting. But is that true? Wouldn’t the film’s sobering warning call against violence have done just the opposite?

Grade: B+

On video and DVD

MEMENTO, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. 113 minutes. Rated R.

Christopher Nolan’s neo-noir thriller, “Memento,” has a shocking beginning, which comes at the end, and an equally gripping ending, which comes at the beginning.

If this sounds at all peculiar, there’s good reason: Much like Harold Pinter’s 1983 film, “Betrayal,” “Memento” tells its story backward.

Well, somewhat backward. Without giving too much away, what’s closer to what occurs on screen is the shattering of chronological time in favor of a device that works – so long as one doesn’t study its mechanics too closely.

The film stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a man whose short-term memory is destroyed after he witnesses the brutal rape and murder of his wife. Now literally living in the moment while being haunted by memories of the past, Leonard is desperate to find the man who murdered his wife so he can avenge her death.

The problem? Since the passing of only a few minutes can literally wipe Leonard’s short-term memory clean, keeping track of his investigation and finding the murderer will prove extremely difficult for him to do.

Disclosing too much of the plot would kill the often challenging experience of putting its many pieces together, so we’ll leave it at this: Nolan, working from a short story by his brother, Jonathan, has created a thriller of great energy and style whose success depends on maintaining its unique brand of confusion.

Grade: A-

Christopher Smith is the Bangor Daily News film critic. His reviews appear Mondays in Style, Thursdays in the scene, Tuesdays on “NEWS CENTER at 5” and Thursdays on “NEWS CENTER at 5:30” on WLBZ-2 and WCSH-6. He can be reached at BDNFilm1@aol.com.