Beautiful Devils

‘where is my value?’ – Oz

James Marquand’s modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ changes many of the perceptions of each character. Though an interesting portrayal I don’t think it will be used as a revision tool anytime soon.

Set in East London, band ‘The Beautiful Devils’ of Oz, Darcy, Ivan and Casper try to get a record contract and are successful in doing so but on one condition, Ivan is off the record.

Already the film has strayed away from the play as it has given Ivan/Iago (Elliot James Langridge) a reason to ruin Oz/Othello’s life besides for his own sick pleasure because Oz (Osy Ikhile), his childhood friend didn’t fight for him to remain in the band but instead was more concerned with himself and girlfriend Darcy/Desdemona (Rachel Hurd-Wood). Also I think having them in a band together presents them all as equals which means Oz doesn’t get to crumble from any sort of pedestal like he is placed upon in the play. However he is presented as the mastermind as he writes and produces all of the band’s music, a subtle superiority.

Langride’s acting did standout to me as one of the best as I feel he was able to embody the destructive and intriguing villain that Iago is. Ikhile did a good job too when his character broke down at the end but the relationship between Oz and Darcy was a bit cringe for me. There was also the use of flickering on and off of the light, the purpose of which I’m yet to understand.

Darcy, I find is much like Desdemona would’ve been if she wasn’t a suppressed member of society as she dress rather quirky, sings in a low raspy  voice and does everything her father, MP James Lacey  (Greg Wise), doesn’t want her to do such as being in the band, not going to university and being in a relationship with Oz but states furiously that it’s not due to his race, so for me it’s not really clear what about the relationship he doesn’t like. Maybe because he is a child from foster care but still isn’t an attribute of his character that is heavily presented. This does clearly show the rebelliousness of Desdemona but not betrayal that should contribute to why Othello so easily believes the affair.

Casper/Cassio (Danny Horn) is Darcy’s best friend and although this makes the idea that they had an affair more plausible it once again takes away the betrayal aspect of the original. Additionally he is by no definition a Florentine, as his character had insecurities and nervousness with women, even trying to hide his relationship with Bianca which despite being quite endearing changes the character completely. Though Cassio’s luck is still there in the film because how Casper doesn’t die from multiple stab wounds but Rigo dies from only one I’m not quite sure.

(Rode)Rigo is a character I have so much sympathy from throughout the film as he is presented as a fragile and innocent character who just wants Darcy’s love. He isn’t, however shown to be under Ivan’s thumb as much as I wanted him to be. I mean he does as he’s told sends pictures of Darcy and Oz to Darcy’s father as well as goes to kill Casper with little convincing but as he’s already presented as weak, young, impressionable Ivan had little work to do, he didn’t necessarily put in tons of effort in Shakespeare’s play but I think he still worked a bit harder to get Roderigo to do what he wanted.

Ultimately, I did engage with the film but only as I know the play so well and mainly to provide critique. Though I didn’t support many of the changes the writers made to the play the principle of creative license has to be respected and wasn’t completely flawed. But all in all this in no way replicates Shakespeare.