CNN - Review: Don't pass on 'Go'

(CNN) -- Sony Pictures held an advanced premiere for this film at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Since then, "Go" has been coming our way with what's called "positive buzz."

The story is set during a 24-hour period in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It's structured as three interlocking stories that bring together drugs, rave parties, stolen cars and a strange Christmas dinner.

Ronna, a supermarket clerk played by Sarah Polley ("The Sweet Hereafter"), is facing eviction on Christmas Eve. To raise some quick cash, she makes her first drug deal.

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One little problem: Where to find drugs? The only dealer she knows is her co-worker Simon, and he's off on a joyride in Vegas. So she tries to score from Simon's supplier Todd (Timothy Olyphant).

Not having enough money for the deal, she leaves her friend Claire (Katie Holmes of "Dawson's Creek") as collateral. And Todd, a poster boy for bad news, has indulged in too much of his own inventory. That's story one.

Story two begins with the same scene. Ronna checks out from work and complains about her upcoming eviction. But this time the story follows Simon (Desmond Askew), who takes us on a road trip to Vegas. He and his buddies, including Taye Diggs as Marcus, run into gambling scams, food poisoning, gunplay, a high-speed car chase and lap dancing.

Story three once again begins at the supermarket and involves two soap-opera stars, Zack and Adam, played by Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf. They're the ones who've tried to score drugs from Ronna. It turns out they're reluctant undercover decoys for a cop, Burke, played by William Fichtner.

This plot features that off-center Christmas dinner with a naked Fichtner and his wife played by Jane Krakowski -- and a dead person who just won't stay dead. What's more, the relationship between Mohr and Wolf's characters holds some surprises.

On screen, writer John August's unconventional plotlines are tied together in a tight, smart, funny knot. The 27-year-old August not only makes his debut as a produced screenwriter with "Go" but also joins the company as a co-producer. The show began as a short story. August expanded it into this full-length feature over a two-year period.

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"Go" is directed by Doug Liman, who brought us the independent hit "Swingers." Both films start off with richly developed characters who share deep relationships. "Go" is the more layered entry. It's also a celebration of that illusion of invincibility that many young people have. Liman's eye for casting is as remarkable as his gift for keeping all the strands of this intricate tale in place.

Even better than the speed with which "Go" goes is the way your concept of each character changes and then changes again -- and yet again. Just when you've made a judgment about someone, or something, it all takes a left turn and "Go" leaves you wondering where your preconceptions ... went.

"Go" is rated R for strong drug content, sexuality, language and some violence, with a running time of 100 minutes.

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RELATED SITES:

Official 'Go' site
Sony Pictures Movies

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