Othello | | Cast : | Laurence Fishburne, Irčne Jacob, Kenneth Branagh | | Director : | Oliver Parker | | Studio : | Castle Rock | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | December 15, 1995 | | DVD Released Date : | January 18, 2000 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 18, 2005 | | Summary | I dont remember | Content
 | i watched this movie in my English class because we have finished reading the book. i dont remember the movie because i was half asleep while watching it. now we have to write a film review and i have no idea what to write! i hate reading Shakespeare because i have no idea what they're talking about. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 18, 2005 | | Summary | Beautiful production | Content
| The staging set the scene well, dark and moody for the dark conspiracy that underlies the plot. Fishburne excels in the role of Othello. I'm sure that future actors in that role will be judged by how well they stand up to Fishburne's portrayal and his skill in making the words come to life. If the rest of the cast had risen to his level, this could have been one of the best ever.
I did not see Branagh's Iago in the same class as Fishburne's Othello, though. The role calls for a smiling traitor, lying to Othello's face and scheming behind his back. Instead, this Iago looks more like a grinning dolt. Irène Jacob's Desdemona lacked passion, as well. Oh, she was passionate enough around the marriage bed, that was fine. She just never projected a convincing emotionality, even under threat of death.
This really is an outstanding production, and maybe I should have given it five stars. So much in it was so good, however, that the flaws seemed especially disappointing.
//wiredweird |
| Rating | | | Date | May 17, 2005 | | Summary | Fishburne Good, But Kenneth Branagh Better In This Remake. | Content
| Laurence Fishburne takes over the role owned by THE OTHER FAMOUS Laurence-yes, I'm talking about Laurence Olivier (see my review on HIS performance in the filmed theater production of "Othello")-in this remake done by Oliver Parker (who's he?), featuring Irene Jacob (who's she?) in the role formerly owned by Maggie Smith-YES, THAT Maggie Smith, when she was young and pretty and Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh ("Henry V," "Much Ado About Nothing," etc) as the villainous "Honest Iago." I enjoyed the film, but Branagh's sinister performance was what really attracted me to rent this movie on DVD. The R rating "For Sexuality" was very harsh and entirely undeserved. It was ONLY ONE scene (Othello used dialogue from the play) and when he saw her full frontal nudity, it was a wide shot (couldn't you have done a brief close-up of that?), so you only see a brief shot of her right breast and two instances where her nipple is exposed. Should've been PG-13 for brief nudity.
See Olivier's version first, but I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this version, because of its faithfulness to the text, while taking a few liberties (every movie done from a play by Shakespeare has those) and the acting, ESPECIALLY by Branagh as the ruthless ancient of the Moor, seeking revenge and inciting jealousy to achieve his sinister goal. Shame that he gets his comeuppance. Rated PG-13 for brief nudity.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 10, 2005 | | Summary | When will people learn that Kenneth Branagh sucks? | Content
| I could talk about many things I hate about this movie. Like for Desdemona, whose actring, poor command of English and thick French accent made me not very sad to see her die. Or an insipid Emilia and wholey unmemorable Cassio. Or the lack of chemistry between Desdemona and Othello; it was very difficult to tell that they were even a couple, much less so deeply in love.
But, no, instead I will focus on what to me was the most glaring problem: Iago. Iago is normally my favorite character; I have seen many versions of "Othello," movie and stage, and in each and every one of them I have found Iago to be the greatest Shakespeare villain ever: complex, tortured yet humorous--so intelligent and cunning that you just have to love him. Iago is a character that the audience is supposed to like against their will: I have read tales that many actors who play Othello feel that Iago steals the limelight from him. In the version with James Earl Jones, the audience loved Iago so much that they were booing when he was arrested--they didn't want him to get caught.
However, Branagh's Iago is the first Iago that I have found to be flat, 2d, and wholly unlikeable. I have never liked Branagh very much to begin with (his directing is terrible and what kind of director casts himself in main roles like that?); I am of the opinion that he does nothing more than chew scenery. Indeed, in "Othello" he trounces around and screws up his face and laughs and performs what he thinks is good Shakespeare. But, he lacks the charisma and charm necessary for Iago, so one never really gets attached to him. Also, he fails to give the underlying psyche behind Iago, to explain to us how he could have done what he did. He is shown as a dumb jerk, not remotely likable or deep at all. I blame this on his directing (like those unnecessary added things in the scene where Emilia gives Iago the handkerchief) and, of course, mostly his acting.
It's a shame, too, because Lawrence Fishbourne does a great job as "Othello." I'd keep him, but replace the rest of the cast. I'm giving a whole extra star just for him. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 03, 2005 | | Summary | Fishburne yes - Branagh no | Content
| To keep it brief, I agree with Mathias' view. I loved Fishburne's portrayal of Othello, but was sorely disappointed in Branagh's Iago, played as an imp rather than an irredemable, vile, hateful villian such as only Shakespeare could create with complete credibility. I was the more dismayed at his unfortunate portrayal, having been so totally taken by Branagh's brilliant Henry V. I am likely influenced by my first exposure to Othello with Sir Laurence Olivier's Othello (most admirably done, but I was disappointed in the portayal 'in black face' - even in 1965 - when so many gifted black actors are available); and Frank Finlay's Iago was perfectly vile to the n'th degree. That production remains, for me, the definitive version just as Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, Olivier's Lear, and Zeferelli's Romeo and Juliet are their respective definitive versions. |
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