Directed by:  Doug Liman 
Written by: John August 
Starring:  Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Desmond Askew, Taye Diggs, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr 
  

January 2, 2000 

         In Doug Liman’s second film Swingers, there’s a great scene where the characters are talking about how Quentin Tarantino rips off of Martin Scorsese.  Then in the next scene, the characters walk to their cars in slow motion, humorously mimicking the opening scene of  Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.  With this scene, Liman is saying that it’s okay to use other people’s techniques, as long as one uses them well, and Liman does just that. 
         Go, Liman’s third feature, is an adrenaline pumping, rush of a film from beginning to end, reminiscent of Pulp Fiction.  There’s drugs, sex and violence; the elements of a great film.  The structure is more like the department store scene in Jackie Brown, where we see the same events from different characters’ points of view.  Instead of just one scene, the whole film is built on this idea.  It’s not confusing at all because the grocery store is used as the starting point of all three stories. 
         Liman is definitely trying to be the next Tarantino, but the thing that sets Tarantino apart is that he works with older actors who can act, whereas Liman, in all three of his films, has mostly worked with young actors in their twenties.  For Go, he jumped on the Dawson’s Creek and Party of Five bandwagon and got Katie Holmes and Scott Wolf.  They’re fine for their roles on the shows, but seem amateurish on the big screen.  And J. E. Freeman plays Victor Sr., the strip club owner, like the cliché action bad guy. 
         The film doesn’t suffer though because the script is so funny.  Since part of the film is about drugs and the rave scene, it keeps a fast pace throughout.  Liman is finding his style in directing, especially shown in the rave scenes.  Liman is no Tarantino yet, but he is finding his niche. 
  

Alternative Recommendations:  Swingers (d: Liman), Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Trainspotting 

-Reviewed in Theater- 

Nominated for
3 Fidelio Film Awards