This is a very strong and competent adaptation of Othello, another one of my favourite Shakespeare plays.
The cinematography is very clear and well shot, the setting in the time it was written doesn't feel inaccessible and the acting is, for the most part, top notch.
Laurence Fishburne is a fine Othello, he gets across all the love, jealousy and pain that the character goes through, you genuinely feel for him and are upset when he does things that go against his nature. Very strong performance, not to mention the first cinematic adaptation of Othello to actually have a black actor in the role.
Irene Jacob as Desdemona is... okay, she never really gets much of a chance to put across an awful lot, and when she does get the chance she doesn't seem to take it, a pretty boring performance.
Kenneth Branagh is the real star of the film. Every line he says is filled with all the slimy underhandedness you want from Iago, you can always tell that there is something secret behind everything he says but you can never anticipate his schemes. A truly superb performance.
In short a very good adaptation of a very good play, well worth a watch.
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