Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!: Othello (1995) - Parker's fascinating Shakespeare adaptation debut

8/14/2022

Othello (1995) - Parker's fascinating Shakespeare adaptation debut

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An intimate dramatic trio is promised on this dark and sensual poster for Oliver Parker's Othello

In renaissance Venice, a power struggle breaks out from jealousy from the mighty Iago towards the dark Othello - concerning a woman and other matters.

Othello is written and directed by debuting Oliver Parker (St. Trinian's (2007)), adapting the same-titled 1603-04 play by William Shakespeare (King John (1596)).

It is honestly difficult to comprehend the plot of Othello for this Shakespeare novice, due to the beautiful dialog, which is presumable kept from the play. But this luckily doesn't destroy the experience of watching it. Parker is obviously fully immersed in the play, which is presented cinematically here, not least thanks to the seething performances of Laurence Fishburne (Bobby Z (2007)) and Kenneth Branagh (Celebrity (1998)). The two fascinate here, even when the narrative connections get fuzzy.

Oliver Parker: Johnny English Reborn/Johnny English Returns (2011) - Atkinson will make you laugh till your belly aches

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

Cost: 11 mil. $

Box office: In excess of 2.8 mil. $ (North America only)

= Uncertain but likely a big flop (projected return of 0.54 times its cost)

[Othello was released 15 December (North America) and runs 123 minutes. Shooting took place from June - August 1995 in Italy, including in Rome. The film opened #14 to a 29k $ first weekend in 2 theaters in North America, where it grossed 2.8 mil. $. The international gross numbers have regrettably not been made public. Projecting a final world gross of 6 mil. $, the film would rank as a big flop. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Parker returned with An Ideal Husband (1999)). Fishburne returned in Fled (1996); Branagh in Hamlet (1996); and Irène Jacob (Rio Sex Comedy (2010)) in Victory (1996). Othello is fresh at 68 % with a 6.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Othello?

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William Friedkin has died

Born in Chicago, Friedkin accrued TV credits prior to his advance to the big screen as the director of Good TImes (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and The Boys in the Band (1970) before his major breakthrough, The French Connection (1971), for which he won his only Oscar. He followed it up with the even bigger smash, The Exorcist (1973), arguably the best horror film of all time, for which he was Oscar-nominated. Later credits include Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Rampage (1987), Rules of Engagement (2000), Killer Joe (2011) and The Devil and Father Amorth (2017, documentary). Friedkin passed away at age 87. R.I.P.

Louise Fletcher has passed away

Born in Alabama to deaf parents, Fletcher got her first credits in late-1950s TV-series.She took a 10 year-long sabbatical to devote her time to motherhood after the release of A Gathering of Eagles, but then came back and soon saw her career's most important part, as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), for which she won her sole Oscar. Later credits include Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), The Lucky Star (1980), Brainstorm (1983), Two Moon Junction (1988), Cruel Intentions (1999), A Perfect Man (2013) and many more. Fletcher passed away at age 88. R.I.P.

Jean-Luc Godard has passed away

Born in Paris, France, Godard lived much of his life in Switzerland. He wrote for French film criticism magazine Cahiers du Cinema and became foundational for the New French Wave that inspired new waves in scores of other countries across the world with his Breathless (1960). Later credits include A Woman Is A Woman (1961), Vivre Sa Vie (1962), Le Petit Soldat (1962), Contempt (1963), Alphaville (1965), Pierrot le Fou (1965), 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967), Weekend (1967), Every Man for Himself (1980), King Lear (1987), Century of Cinema (1995, documentary), Goodbye to Language (2014) and many more. Godard died of assisted suicide at age 91. R.I.P.

Wolfgang Petersen has died

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Caan was born the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany in New York. He got his start on TV in the early 1960s. His credits include El Dorado (1966), The Rain People (1969), Brian's Song (1971, TV movie), The Godfather (1972), - for which he earned his only Oscar nomination, - Slither (1973), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), Rollerball (1975), Silent Movie (1976), Hide in Plain Sight (1980), - the only film he also directed, - Thief (1981), Misery (1990), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Bottle Rocket (1996), Eraser (1996), Dogville (2003), Elf (2003), Las Vegas (2003-07), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and many more. Caan passed away at age 82. R.I.P.

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Philip Baker Hall has died

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William Hurt has passed away

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Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!

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8/14/2022

Othello (1995) - Parker's fascinating Shakespeare adaptation debut

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