- "O" is a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's Othello centering around a Basketball school at a private boarding school. Josh Hartnett portrays Hugo, the character based off Iago. Although the story remains pretty faithful to the original just set in modern times, Hugo has different motivations than Shakespeare's Iago.
- In the movie, the Duke is Hugo's father and the coach of the basketball team. And his favoritism of O both on and off the court is an obvious motivation for Hugo's manipulation of Odin, Desi, Michael, Rodger, and Brandy. Even before he begins to set his plans into motion, we know that he has been taking steroids to improve his performance on the team and thus impress his father.
- Like Iago, everyone seems to like and trust Hugo yet he is left in the shadows while Odin and Michael receive the school and his father's praise. This is particularly apparent during the scene where the Duke gives a touching speech about Odin before naming him MVP, even going so far as saying, "I love him like my own son." Hugo feels like Odin is not only stealing his spotlight on the basketball court but also from his father.
- It does seem like in the end, both Hugo and Iago did just want to be noticed, to be recognized and get attention. But who they receive this attention from is different. It's questionable from who exactly Iago wants attention from - the world? The Duke? His country? Fellow soldiers? All of the above? With Hugo, his father is definitely someone he wants attention from. Not solely his father, but from his monologue at the end that the Duke was a large part of his motivation.
- The perception of Iago and Hugo as villains are different because of the changes in motivation. I personally find Iago more interesting as a character because his motivations are less clear. He isn't just trying to get daddy's attention. Hugo seems just as spoiled as the kids he goes to school with and is jealous of. That makes him hypocritical and, in my opinion, unimpressive. What Hugo does have going for him is that an attractive actor is playing him.
