The Movie Guys: To pass or not pass ‘Go’ — That is the question

Friday, April 9, 1999 | 11:50 a.m.

Synopsis: Set over a 24-hour period in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, this unconventionally structured comedy is told from the decidedly off-center perspectives of three parties involved in the outrageous events that surround a botched drug deal: A pair of down-on-their-luck supermarket checkout girls, a couple of soap opera actors and an impetuous British expatriate, all of whom discover they are in way over their heads.

Jeff: In the follow-up to his 1996 comedy hit "Swingers," director Doug Liman keeps to a style and formula that is quickly becoming his trademark -- witty and raw directing that combines interesting characters within stories that move fast and furious. Three stories are presented in "Go," each of which crisscrosses back-and-forth on a particular night of partying, shoplifting, drug-dealing and road trips to Las Vegas. Each story is set up simply, foreshadowing disasters that follow each circle of losers as they try to make sense out of their pathetic lives.

Dave: The problem here is that by the film's end, you really don't care about them or their pathetic lives. Of the three intertwining stories, the most interesting, and most humorous, for that matter, revolves around a couple of supermarket checkout clerks named Ronna and Claire (Sarah Polley and Katie Holmes of "Dawson's Creek"), who wind up playing amateur drug dealers in order to raise enough cash before Ronna is evicted from her slum apartment.

The dialogue seems fresh and the tension and situations each character is placed in seem real. However, their venture appears to end abruptly and tragically, and first-time screenwriter John August feels the need to branch off with another tale where the first story began. If only Quentin Tarantino knew what he created with his flicks "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" by making nonlinear storytelling a fad, rather than a unique device that allows a film's story to unfold.

Jeff: These aren't characters from "The English Patient" -- rather, they are a group of twenty-somethings who hang out at rave parties, steal Ferraris and down the drug Ecstasy, all in the name of youth. Don't expect some epiphany from a film about a group of kids in Los Angeles who hang out in the underground scene.

August's smartly-written script is perfectly executed in pacing and humor, and Liman's direction, while certainly in the spirit and style of Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" and Steven Soderberg's "Out of Sight," is anything but a fad, but nothing short of spectacular.

Dave: Well, Jeff, now that you've enlightened everyone by listing a library of film titles and offering your witty commentary for comparison and contrast, let me add that any up-and-coming filmmaker such as Liman can mold a lackluster script into what you believe is entertainment by mixing slick camera maneuvers and fast editing with a hip, retro-feel and gritty tint. And by the way, the "epiphany" you described sounds awfully familiar to that of Liman's first feature, the aforementioned "Swingers," what with its deep and insightful characters who possess clever quips and comic relief that contributed to a new generation of swingers.

Fortunately, the filmmaker's latest effort isn't entirely an over-hyped production. The impressive young cast of talent is humorous, and a certain amount of energy is attributed to the film's piercing soundtrack.

Jeff: I see, Dave, Liman can only handle stories about "Swingers" and nothing else. Actually, you made my point that Liman deserves praise for helming ensemble casts playing real characters who do not necessarily have great life-turning moments, but reflect the stress and strife of daily life like paying rent, dating or just trying to figure out who they are and their position in life.

"Go" has some graphic content, such as people overdosing on drugs, hitting each other with cars, shoplifting and very suggestive sexual situations, emphasizing that these characters are not poster boys for the Boy Scouts -- but most are likable. I say, go to "Go" and have a good time. I did.

Dave: And, as everyone may have gathered by now, I really didn't have a good time. I have to admit, Jeff, my expectations were a bit higher than yours, which may explain my negative slant. But I can't ignore the fact that "Go" is simply the same mindless, pop-culture, generational garbage that seems to be infiltrating the theaters lately, but packaged tightly enough to pass as a respectable flick. Otherwise, pass "Go," and collect your admission fee.

Movie Buzz

Harvey gets "Harvey": Harvey Weinstein's Miramax Pictures has beat out Universal, New Line and Disney for the screen rights to remake "Harvey," the classic 1950 movie starring Jimmy Stewart. According to the trade publication Variety, negotiations for the film were completed on Easter Sunday. "Harvey" tells the story of an easy-going guy named Elwood P. Dowd, who claims that he is friends with a giant, invisible rabbit named Harvey. Miramax's wish list for the lead is said to include Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks.

Cameron leaves web: The Hollywood Reporter has announced that screenwriter David Koepp ("Mission: Impossible") has been hired to write the screenplay for the long-awaited film version of the comic book character Spider Man. While James Cameron has confirmed that he will have no involvement in the project, the script Koepp is crafting will "draw in part" from the original treatment Cameron wrote years ago. No director has been selected yet, although several top names have expressed interest.

"Monkey" on Kattan's back: "Saturday Night Live" star Chris Kattan ("A Night at the Roxbury") is set to join Brendan Fraser and Whoopi Goldberg in "Monkey Bone," a Fox film employing a combination of live action and stop-motion animation. Fraser stars as a neurotic cartoonist who, after a car crash leaves him in a coma, finds himself stuck in the purgatory-like Dark Town, with Death (Goldberg) hot on his trail. Only his alter ego, the obnoxious Monkey Bone, can help him return to the world of the living. Kattan will play an organ transplant donor who is drawn into Dark Town. "Monkey Bone" is expected to go before the cameras in May, with Henry Selick ("The Nightmare Before Christmas") directing.

Viewpoint

As you may know, since the tragic and untimely death of film critic Gene Siskel, there have been guest critics occupying the empty chair across from Roger Ebert on the "Siskel & Ebert" TV show produced by Buena Vista Television. People such as Tom Shales (Washington Post), Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times), David Ansen (Newsweek) and even Internet movie guru Harry Knowles were chosen as fill-ins. According to a recent article in the New York Post, "Good Morning America" film critic Joel Siegel may have the inside track as the permament replacement. This makes sense because "GMA" is an ABC News program. (ABC is owned by Disney, as is "Siskel & Ebert.")

We understand Disney's desire to keep things all in the family. But we have just one, small question: WHY WEREN'T THE MOVIE GUYS PICKED TO GUEST HOST? Yes, we know that outside of Las Vegas, no one knows or cares who the heck we are, but that's no excuse! We have TV experience, the drive and the determination. We even have our own makeup man (Hi, Vladimir!). The outlook seems bleak, however. If, indeed, Siegel is selected as permament co-host, our dreams will be crushed like so many Pahrump Vineyard grapes.

That's why we need your help, Las Vegas! We are mounting a half-hearted campaign to get us on "Siskel & Ebert." What we need from you, readers: e-mail to Buena Vista Television demanding (nicely) that the Movie Guys be selected as guest hosts on one show. Think about it: We HAVE to be more entertaining than any of those other guys! Besides, it's a matter of local pride (sort of)! And, Las Vegans, as an extra incentive, if our campaign is successful, we promise to be really, really grateful! Who needs more than that? Here's the e-mail address: tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ siskelandebert/email.html. Now, all you have to do is write and say, "We want the Movie Guys on 'Siskel & Ebert'!" Who knows -- it might even work!

Name That Flick

"I like a girl in a bikini -- no concealed weapons." Most of you who called were on the right track, guessing it was from a James Bond film. But it was John Fountain, Jr. who correctly guessed that it was spoken by Christopher Lee as the Bond villain with the superfluous nipple, Vincent Scaramanga, in "The Man With The Golden Gun." Way to, John!

For this week, what actor said this and in what film: "You wanna talk to God? Let's go see him together. I've got nothing better to do"? Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call the Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at movieguys5@aol.com. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

See you next week.