There are few (if any) "good" people in the black comedy "Go." But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a "bad" movie — at least in terms of quality.
In fact, it's quite the opposite, which is a genuine surprise, given how morally repugnant most of the movie's characters are. But there's a certain perverse appeal to seeing this bunch get their just deserts.
In fact, if there's something the film excels at, it's dispensing some form of "justice" to those who deserve it.
The idea behind "Go" — showing the same event through several different perspectives — has been done before, of course — most famously in "Pulp Fiction." But there are enough twists and turns this time around to make it worthwhile.
But don't mistake this ensemble piece for a feel-good comedy. This is very rough stuff, in terms of story and content, which will put off a lot of audience members. And it's certainly not socially redeeming in any way.
The story traces the misadventures of several young Los Angelenos over a disastrous Christmas season.
Ronna (Sarah Polley) is a teenage supermarket checkout girl in danger of being evicted from her apartment unless she gets some money fast.
Enter Zach (Jay Mohr) and Adam (Scott Wolf), a pair of gay soap stars looking for drugs, which Ronna is more than willing to supply — if she can get her hands on some, that is.
However, it turns out the two men are actually working undercover for a detective (William Fichtner) who is looking to make a big drug bust. (In essence, he's blackmailing them into helping him.)
Meanwhile, Ronna's co-workers have troubles of their own. Claire (Katie Holmes) finds herself attracted to a psychotic drug dealer, while Simon (Desmond Askew) and his pals are running from a bouncer he shot at a Las Vegas strip club.
Even though the story threads don't seem related, director-cinematographer Doug Liman ("Swingers") and first-time screenwriter John August weave them together quite nicely. And the kinetic, eye-popping camera work suits the material.
So does the cast, for that matter. The standouts include Polley, who seems to be channeling Winona Ryder, the oddly appealing Askew — and especially Wolf and Mohr, who are hilariously cast against type.
"Go" is rated R for profanity, violent beatings, gunplay and vehicular assaults, simulated sex, male and female nudity, simulated drug use (ecstacy and marijuana), crude sex talk, use of racial epithets and graphic gore.