Go

I’ve always liked this one. Great cast, the stories connect well, good music. No complaints from me.

Rooted in 90s alternative culture, Doug Liman’s second directorial effort merges the 90s teen comedy genre with the hyperlink story structure and crime sensibilities of movies like _Reservoir Dogs_ and _Pulp Fiction_. I’m really happy to have found it, because it scratches a different itch than a lot of other movies like it. Most of my favourite teen movies have those typical Wes Anderson/twee sensibilities (_Rushmore, Submarine_). This is a lot edgier, but it doesn’t take the dumb, lowbrow route of the more popular teen comedies from around that time either. Everything about this stands head and shoulders above stuff like _American Pie_ or _10 Things I hate about you_. The acting is fantastic, the writing is intriguing, and most importantly you won’t cringe at anything once you’ve outgrown the target demographic. Honestly, it’s a criminally overlooked film that includes great characters, unpredictable story beats and a killer soundtrack. Sure, it can’t quite compete with Tarantino’s best work, which is mostly because the dialogue and comedy aren’t quite as sharp. However, the cinematography and asymmetrical editing continuously make interesting choices, capturing the feeling of a 90s rave culture perfectly (even the Dutch angles work in the context of this film).

8/10

Go is a smart and edgy dark comedy that takes the audience on a wildly entertaining ride. Director Doug Liman makes some daring choices, including the use of an experimental narrative, to tell several separate but intersecting stories surrounding a Christmas rave. And, the cast includes standout performances by Sarah Polley, William Fichtner, and Timothy Olyphant, all of whom brilliantly execute the sarcastic wit and dark humor of the film. Go is a high-energy, fast-paced adventure that’s full of crazy hijinks and hilarious mayhem.

The first part of this movie is 10/10!

After "Swingers," "Go" is also a cinematic time capsule of the '90s. Director Doug Liman obviously took his cue from films like "Pulp Fiction". Accordingly, the plot is also divided into several different episodes that work to varying degrees and are tied together at the end. However, the characters are all written in such a moronic way that they seem more like they could have come from one of the typical teen movies of the era than from a Tarantino film. That actually bothered me a bit, too, but in the end, "Go" is still extremely entertaining. The pacing is good, and all the situations the characters get into because of their stupidity are appropriately absurd. The cast also works very well, with standouts being Timothy Olyphant and William Fichtner. And even Katie Holmes, who may not be the best actress, is perfectly cast in her role. If you're into 90s nostalgia, you should definitely put "Go" on your watchlist.

This film was billed as a derivative and less bloody version of Pulp Fiction. I could see hints of this throughout the film - stories told from different perspectives, a handful of Tarantino-esque monologues, etc - but on the whole it felt like its own animal. I enjoyed it and it kept me entertained, although if I am being honest the best scenes are the ones with Sarah Polley (if you'd never seen The Sweet Hereafter or Stories We Tell I recommend you give them a look). At 98 minutes this film probably couldn't build to anything more than it did.

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1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
0 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
1 / 1 writing
1 / 1 originality
0 / 1 lasting ability to make you think

.5 / 1 misc (fun)

7.5 out of 10

Just felt a bit bland. I like the genre, I like and actors and director, but it just…’was’. Perhaps in 2024 it’s not cutting edge anymore?

This is exactly how it every day was in the 90s and it was glorious