Movie #122- "Go" (1999)

"Pulp Fiction" really changed the landscape of film.  It's cool dialogue, stylish violence, and non-linear story telling seemed to open a world of possibilities for young directors.  Many took notice, using that film as a springboard to try different things as how a story unfolds.  Unfortunately, others got trapped in the idea and were doomed into making copies without adding an original stamp.  For me, "Go!" fit snugly into the former, an exciting thrill ride that shares some of the Fiction DNA, yet pushing it different directions.
"Go!" was directed by Doug Liman, following in the success of "Swingers", a film that traveled at a lighter pace.  Liman was able to ensemble an incredible cast of young actors and familiar faces to realize his vision.  The plot follows several characters through one evening, with three separate stories.  The major players of each story intersect at a grocery store early in the evening, although all the characters do not necessarily cross paths (Ronna, a store cashier, is a common bond).  The stories take us on a drug run/techno rave, a trip to Vegas and an attempted drug bust, which happens to build off the first story before going off on a crazy tangent of it's own (then re-joining the first story a second time).
The list of known actors involved with the film is impressive and all provide energy to the saga.  Sarah Polley, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolfe, and Taye Diggs along with brief appearances by Jane Krakowski and Melissa McCarthy and Katie Holmes in quite possibly her least offensive film role (I've liked movies she's been in, just not her appearances).  Worthy of a special mention are Timothy Oliphant as Todd Gaines, a drug dealer who is tough and scary, yet with a seemingly sensible code and William Fichter as a cop with a secret that gave me one of the biggest laughs in the movie. 
The title of the film is really an apt description as "Go!" continually hurdles forward, barely taking any time for a breath.  I also felt that was part of it's undoing as it stumbles over it's own stylish attitude.  If it doesn't have a cult following, it should.

Rating: 6/10
Movies I've previously seen: 6
First time viewings: 116