I had a tooth pulled yesterday. This has nothing to do with the movie “Go”. Well, a little maybe. After the oral surgery yesterday I thought I might be a little under the weather for a while, so I took today off. Oh, I’m doing ok, thanks.
A friend had given us a copy of the DVD for “Go” quite a while back but we had never found the free time to watch it. Well, I finally watched it today and I wish I had watched it sooner. I really enjoyed it! “Go” is a fast-paced, wild ride of a comedy, edgy and fun and full of surprises. It’s from 1999 and features a great cast, with Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Taye Diggs, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, and many more. Everyone does a good job, the script is tight and funny in a darkishly wild way. And I mean that in the best sense.
The film is told from a few different angles but that only takes a little getting used to. The characters are interesting and they easily draw you in to the story (the evening’s adventures) so that in miinutes you are both laughing and thinking, uh-oh, at the same time. But go along, it’s a great time and besides, you are comfy and safe. Some reviews compare this to a more teen-oriented, slacker-filled Pulp Fiction. I wouldn’t call it that, although maybe I just did. But that doesn’t do it justice. No offense to Pulp Fiction, I like that one a lot too. But “Go” is it’s own movie with young and engaging characters. You’ll see. Rent it or buy it and watch it. Simple.
The film is rated R and deals with drugs, language, and sexual references. But there’s nothing too graphic or bad here for us grown-ups, it’s just not for the kiddies. This film gets a stunningly high 92% rating on the film site Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s the description from Amazon.com, this might give you an idea but I think you would really have to see it. And I certainly recommend it.
Director Doug Liman’s follow-up to the winning Swingers is a rollicking adventure that, while lacking in any substantial plot, speeds along with nonstop adrenaline and style to burn. Taking a cue from Pulp Fiction, Liman plays tricks with time and overlapping plots, all of which play out in L.A. and Las Vegas in a 24-hour period sometime between Christmas and New Year’s. Slacker grocery-store clerk Ronna (Sarah Polley) is trying to score rent money by selling hits of Ecstasy at a rave party, but winds up inadvertently double-crossing a ruthless dealer (sexy and scary Timothy Olyphant). She’s also invading the dealing turf of her coworker Simon (Desmond Askew), a Brit on his first trip to Vegas, which turns nightmarish after a jaunt with pal Marcus (Taye Diggs) to a “gentleman’s club” turns violent. And then there’s the two soap-opera actors (Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf) who cross paths with Ronna more than once in their attempts to divest themselves of a drug-related charge by participating in a sting.
The way Liman and writer John August layer these stories owes a huge debt to Quentin Tarantino, but the comedy and action sequences rocket like a bat out of hell with energy, humor, and genuine surprise. In addition to some hilarious dialogue exchanges–including a classic scene between Ronna’s stoned friend (Nathan Bexton) and a Zen cat–Liman works wonders with one the most winning ensembles in recent memory, a cast that includes both established actors and TV cuties. Mohr, Diggs, and especially Polley (doing a 180 from her turn in The Sweet Hereafter) are as excellent as you’d expect, but it’s Wolf (of Party of Five) and Dawson’s Creek‘s Katie Holmes (as Polley’s best bud) who turn in revelatory work; Holmes especially seems poised to be a breakout star. An amazing cinematic ride–like a roller coaster, you’ll want to go back again and again. –Mark Englehart
Both Rotten Tomatoes and Amazon have plenty of critic and user reviews if you want more of those. But take my word for it. It’s a sharp, adventurous, clever, wild, dark, funny, fast comedy that is for the open-minded among us.
Have you already seen it? Did you give me the DVD? have you watched it more than once? Whatever, tell me all about it! Leave me a comment below…
I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
Go! Yes, that’s a good one–a movie I can watch many times and still get a lot of enjoyment! I’m sure we recommended it… maybe we gave you the DVD?
BTW, real glad you’re doing ok after tooth surgery:-)
Ha, thanks. I’m doing ok. I liked watching two movies in one day. Almost worth having a tooth pulled. Well, maybe not.
BTW, yes, I think you guys did give us the DVD. I liked it quite a bit so you done good!
Hi, first I want to say great blog. I don’t always agree with your opinions but it’s always a nice read.
I want to give a kick butt review to Date Night. Worth seeing.