"Go" directed by Doug Liman
You've seen "Swingers", right? It was out a couple of years ago and predates by a few cycles that accusrsed "Swing"-resurgance. Brian Setzer should burn in hell, by the way, but that's for another time.

I liked "Swingers". Good movie. Saw it at the urging of some people whom I no longer talk to, but that's neither here nor there. The only thing that got it in the way of being one of those movies I would rent more than two or three times?

I really really found the swing music and Sinatra-hipster lingo cloying and trying too damned hard to be cool.

So I went to see "Go", latest film from "Swingers" auter Doug Liman. Trailers made it look like a wretched, teen-aimed Tarantino rip-off, starring the latest nubile teen goddess from the latest WB drama full of nubile young teen (though some of them seem as if they're pushing forty) gods and goddesses begging to be cast in teen-aimed Tarantino/Craven/Heckerling/Williamson/Hughes (take yr pick, folks, 'cause I could go on for a while) rip-offs starring the latest teen god/goddess from the latest WB drama full of nubile young teen gods and goddesses.

I thought a director with potential had gone for the golden Hollywood ring and succumbed to the bougise capitalist system of filmmaking. I approached this film with Greg after an afternoon spent in almost every auto-care place in Albany, not searching to repair one, but TWO of his family's cars. We had a good time though. Anyway, we were itching for something to do, so we went to see "Go" at the Spectrum.

The movie is divided into three inter-locking stories, each beginning in the break room of the same LA area supermarket. From there, the stories break away and finally reconvene. Along the way, we meet the usual assortment of cool drug dealer, cool drug-induced hallucinations with talking cats, cool gun play, cool gratuitous nudity, cool rave, cool casual sex and the Uber Cool Brit. By the way, I'm not complaining about any of these points.

I really really really want to tell you this movie sucked beyond belief. But I can't. In fact, even though saying this goes against every fiber in my body, for a fake-indie film, this movie is pretty damned great. Sure, parts of it are incredibly formulaic and predictable-bordering-on-tedious, but you know what? Even those spots are still a very nice change of pace from your average fare.

The only REALLY distracting element?

Remember that thing I said about the use of swing music in "Swingers"? The same can be said about techno/house/whatever in "Go".

Also, that stupid stupid No Doubt song is pain stakingly out-of-place, as if inserted, gasp and horror of all horrors, JUST TO SELL THE SOUNDTRACK! Man, if such a callous move like that were pulled, I just don't know how I could continue watching these Hollywood movies. But it's too late, 'cause I already hate No Doubt, loved this movie, and, besides, "Episode One" was done in Leavesden England and Marin County, Dogma was shot in Chi-town and "Lock Stock" was from across the pond.

So there.

As I said, there are three different stories. The first one, concerning a borderline hot blond chick and selling drugs at a rave, is the slowest. The second one, about the requisite Uber Cool Brit, named Simon and wonderfully played by some guy named Desmond Askew, just kicks ass all over the place. It involves Las Vegas and strippers (hmmm...kinda like "Swingers"...do I sense a pattern emerging, Mr Liman?) and exudes cool. Pay the $6 just for this part. The last part (although there is an epilouge that ties everything up nicely), about a gay couple played by Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr, is pretty funny but not a worthy follow-up to the Simon extravaganza.

You know, it pains me to say this, but all those afore-mentioned nubile teen gods/goddesses acted really well in this movie, especially the striking Katie Holmes and more talented than I thought Scott Wolf.

By the way, this is being written at 2:48am, so don't complain about structure. I just love you, my faithful readers (take a few seconds now to laugh wildly and catch your breath. Are you okay?), too much to let sleep stop me. Stupid stupid sleep.

In summation, it ain't no "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels", but there are worse things you could see than "Go".

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Michael Keegan
4.19.1999