Review of Go

Introduction

The hype described it as “Pulp Fiction meets Trainspotting”…worthy company indeed. But Go deserves to be recognised on its own, and not just as an accompaniment to other movies. Here, the talented Doug Liman (director of Swingers) has created an exhilarating and breathless ride through a set of teenagers’ weekend.

What drew this fine movie most comparisons to movies like Pulp Fiction was the non-linear storyline. In fact, whilst in Pulp Fiction the storyline is set in a non-chronological order, here it is more like three separate stories being told, and then deftly weaved into one.

The plot is nothing extraordinary, and so it is best to see the movie without having heard it here first. This is basically a teen-flick, but one with superb performances by Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Desmond Askew, Taye Diggs and all the other (mostly) unknown young actors showcased here. The dialogue is sharp and the set pieces hilarious: this tale of sex, drugs and shrimp is definitely one to watch.

Video

The picture is very crisp, with bright colours and detailed images. Nothing to complain about here. Both anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen are provided, so everyone’s happy.

Audio

The 5.1 mix is very good indeed, especially for such a dialogue-based movie. And although there aren’t that many room-rumbling explosions, the bass really kicks in when the excellent soundtrack plays.

Features

This disc is packed with extras. First up is a commentary by director and editor. Liman and Steve Mirrione obviously know each other very well, and this is shown in their easy and informative repartee. The commentary is interesting, but perhaps not quite as fun as it should be, considering the film itself.

Next up is probably the most extensive set of deleted scenes ever compiled. Most of these 14 scenes are actually good, and at least as enjoyable as the film itself. Worthwhile viewing.

Finally, there is the making-of featurette, a good, although short, behind-the-scenes of the movie; and there are also three music videos, good (although not the best) selections from the soundtrack.

Conclusion

This disc is excellent, one of the very best – loads of extras, everything you would expect from a special edition. The movie itself was one of the most fun, and best, of year; unfortunately the return at the box office in early 1999 didn’t really express how good this movie is. Go out and buy it: if you can’t have a good weekend, at least watch one!