DIRECTED BY: Doug Liman
STARRING: Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Desmond Askew, Nathan Bexton, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr, Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer, William Fichtner and Timothy Olyphant
BUDGET: $6.5m
EARNED (Worldwide): $28.4m
AWARDS: None
Go tells the story of the events after a drug deal, told from three different points of view.
Go, as stated, centers on three different sets of characters through what appears to be a normal kind of day. One focuses on Ronna is suffering financial difficulties and is on the verge of being evicted from her apartment. In order to make money to save her place, she’s approached by two men for drugs, which they normally get from her co-worker, and decides to do it herself. From here the night gets complicated, leading to events that effect everyone involved.
When Go was initially released, it was very often compared to Pulp Fiction for its off-topic dialogue, fast pace, rapidly changing point of view, but for me the film is able to stand on its own merit upon revisiting it, focusing on the adult-youth culture of the late 90’s, covered by a soundtrack providing some added nostalgia to the times and never fallen into the cliched mould of knowing where the film is going as it jumps from the Christmas party with Ronna’s group point of view, to Las Vegas for Simon’s group point of view and then back to the two men requesting drugs and from their point of view. Sarah Polley is great as Ronna, thinking fast as the situation starts to get out of control from her initial plan, as well as Timothy Olyphant as drug dealer Todd, creating an air of menace and likability are the same time and then there’s William Fichtner as Burke, open to sexual adventures with strangers and confederated products are his jam. Actually, all the characters, even those that aren’t fleshed out as much (Mannie for example) have a likability factor and even though the interlinking stories may make you question what the payoff will be, you’re too busy being intrigued by what you see develop on screen.
FAVOURITE SCENE: Burke only wearing his boxers, creeping the hell out of Zack in the bedroom. The expression on Jay Mohr’s face throughout that scene is priceless, as Fichtner plays it deadpan throughout.
FAVOURITE QUOTE: “Wow, I didn’t know we were such good friends, Ronna! Because if we were, you would know I give head before I give favours and I didn’t even give my best friends head, so the chances of you getting a favour is pretty fucking slim.” – Todd
DID YOU KNOW?: Christina Ricci was originally cast in the role of Ronna, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Irish Cinephile 