Might appear dated now, but Doug 'Bourne identity' 'Edge of tomorrow' 'Mr./Mrs. Smith' 'Swingers' Liman has such a firm grip on the narrative, all the way through, that this one almost acts as the template-setter for everything that came after, in spite of its superlow budget, that is evident. And no, this is not a 'Clerks' or a 'Mallrats' wannabe, though the supermarket kinda connects our main characters. The trope, as tropes go, follows different paths taken by various lead characters from 2 points in the plot, 1, that sets things off, and the other, that acts as kind of a pre-climax of sorts, if that makes sense (it will, when you watch it). However, this is not just a post Pulp Fiction piecing together gimmick. It helps that said gimmick is help by solid narrative set- pieces, like the one where Katie Holmes' and Timothy Olyphant's characters get together accidentally (for the 2nd time) when Holmes lets loose, for the first time in the flick, followed by the recurring, consistent way Taye Diggs' character's jacket becomes a plot-twist, and the dinner scene at William Fichtner's place (fanta- hilarious), the scene with X marking the spot for some delayed revenge etc. Anyways, was a nice blast-from-the-past kinda experience, which has more in common with Liman's own 'Swingers' and Favreau's 'Made' (both of them with Vaughn and Favreau). Sarah Polley, Gordon-Levitt wannabe Desmond Askew, Timothy Olyphant, Taye Diggs, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolff, William Fichtner, Melissa McCarthy, Breckin Meyer, Jane Krakowski, the vastly underrated JE Freeman etc. have all had their own paths (with Polley even helming great movies), but this is a good one to watch to remember what they were once a part of (in a good way). Worth multiple viewings....even the deleted scenes actually should have been part of the flick....maybe a future complete-cut??

This fast-paced, inventive ensemble comedy from '99 has held up very well. In light of later developments, especially on cable, the timeshifting, "Pulp Fiction"-like structure seems less obtrusive and gimmicky than it did back in the day. Each of the interlocking episodes takes off from the same event, which we see several times over—a cash-strapped supermarket clerk takes a shift for a co-worker, who happens to be a retail drug dealer. Consequences, for three different sets of characters, include a shambolic roadtrip to Vegas, a shooting in a strip club with threatened retaliation, an ironic car chase, a BF left with a higher-level dealer as collateral for a drug buy, and a queasy-making dinner party hosted by a pair of narco cops. There's lots of chaos and violence, but it's cartoon violence, basically, and nobody's much the worse for it (triple-shifting Ronna gets hit by a car and left for dead, but she's back at her register on Monday). Every episode includes at least one really good time-release sightgag; to spoil just two—when Taye Diggs, as one of the roadtrippers, puts on a spiffy blazer in a casino, a guy gives him a tip in the men's room; at the casino enrance another guy tosses him the keys to his car… Smart, casual dialogue, not as self-conscious as in "Pulp Fiction"; my favorite line is a throwaway diss of the comic strip "Family Circus." Commendable cast includes Sarah Polley, playing it tough, as Ronna, Katie Holmes (she's good!) as the BF, a baby-faced Timothy Olyphant as the dealer, plus Jay Mohr as a TV actor in jeopardy; great to see a dewy young Jane Krakowski and Melissa McCarthy in lesser roles. Turns up on a cable a lot; available on disk from Netflix.

"Go" is John August's first feature film. Since then August has been writing for some of Tim Burton's film including "Big Fish", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the upcoming "Frankenweenie" film. In 2007 August wrote and directed a film called "The Nines"(review will come this month), which as become one of my favorites. Directed by Doug Liman(Swingers, The Bourne Identity) , "Go" tells three intertwining stories on Christmas Eve night. The first one is Ronna's(Sarah Polley) story, a struggling grocery store clerk who needs to make her rent on time. Her co-worker Simon, his heading to Vegas with his pals, and needs Ronna to take his shift. Ronna needs the money the money she takes it. While working she is approached by two men buying gallons of orange juice. The two men say that Simon always gets them ecstasy, and they were wondering since he was gone if she could score some for them. Ronna agrees. Her night to come would involve a drug dealer, played viciously by Timothy Olyphant, drug bust, a Christmas rave, and getting hit by a miata.Then there is Simon's who gets Ronna to take his shift so he can go to Vegas. When he arrives they dine at a buffet. Some of the friends eat the shellfish, and fall ill, and unable to partake in their night in Vegas. This leaves Simon and his friend Marcus(Taye Diggs). Their night starts off very nicely at a strip club, but all hell breaks loose when Simon touches one of the dancers, causing the owner and his son to hunt down Simon, even if it means following them back to Los Angeles. The third and best story involves Adam and Zach who are day time T.V. stars and closet homosexuals and having relationship problems, played by Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf. They are the two men that ask Ronna to get them ecstasy. But it turns out they were caught a while back buying some pot, and they are trying to get their record clean, so they are helping out in a police investigation. The detective in charge of the case is Burke(William Fichtner), and he ask the boys to stay for Christmas Eve dinner with him and his wife. They agree. Burke has a secret agenda though. He wants to use their celebrity to help gain them more sells for his confederated product business on the side. This film is very Pulp Ficiton esque, in the way of the intertwining timelines, and all of the cool, hip talk about sex, and drugs. So many films try and pull this off, but none have really come close to being a good film. Go is definitely a great film. I have owned it for years and decided to pull it off the shelf and give it a new and updated review. Go has tons of charisma, and wit and most of the performances are outstanding. William Fichtner's being my favorite. If you have not seen Go, then go and rent it. I give Go a 9 out of 10

Three years after directing the cult hit "Swingers" Doug Liman struck gold again with the hip young ensemble comedy "Go". Uniquely structured over the course of one crazy night in the lives of a bunch of young people in the city of angels.The story follows four main characters Ronna (Sarah Polley), a supermarket cashier, who needs $300 to avoid being evicted from her apartment. Simon (Desmond Askew), Ronna's British co-worker who's is going to Las Vegas for the weekend with a few friends. Then there are Adam and Zack (Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr) a couple of gay soap opera actors who are cutting a deal with the police to help then arrest Simon who is friends with Tod (Timothy Olyphant) a local drug dealer.The movie has a very 90s feel to it when watched today. Pagers were still big with teenagers. Raves were still cool and mysterious. This movies is like a time capsule of a time that really doesn't seem too long ago. Remember the good ole days of 1999, at the height of Y2K paranoia, and people still doing the Macarena what a time to be alive. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic if it isn't obvious). Okay so needing money in a hurry Ronna takes Simon's shift so he can go to Vegas. When Adam and Zack look to score some ecstasy from her in a sting operation she agrees. She goes to Tod to buy the stuff hoping to turn a profit when she resells it, not knowing that Adam and Zack are narcs. Although Tod needs some assurance that Ronna will pay him back, so she leaves her friend Claire (Katie Holmes) as collateral. Needless to say the deal goes bad and Ronna is now totally screwed.Then the movie sort of starts over again but this time from Simon's point of view and his wild adventures in Vegas. Simon and friends get into some pretty crazy sh** and end up on the run from some low level strip club mobsters when Simon shots one of them in the arm. This story will cross path with Tod and Claire near the end.Lastly we've go to the point of view of Adam and Zack and their relationship with officer Burke (William Fichtner) who is overseeing their plea bargain to get and arrest that will lead him to Tod. They will also run into Ronna again at a very inopportune time. Everything in each story in connected in one way or another and makes it joy to watch. The characters are interesting, quirky, and funny, and the story is tightly packed with out a second to spare. It's a pretty fun experience even if it is a little dated. So if your feeling a little nostalgic for the 90s I suggest you "Go".