A modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's 'Othello', this time set at an elite boarding school where Odin James (Mekhi Phifer) is one of the few black students and the star of the school's basketball team. Teammate, and coach's son, Hugo Goulding (Josh Hartnett) grows increasingly jealous at Odin's celebrity and the attention his father (Martin Sheen) directs at Odin. Believing that Odin and teammate Michael Cassio (Andrew Keegan) are unfairly garnering honors at his expense, Hugo begins to plot his revenge. His plot centers on making Odin doubt the affection of his girlfriend Desi Brable (Julia Stiles), no matter the affect this manufactured jealousy will have on those involved.