How a low-budget indie crime comedy became a cult classic of the nineties

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Doug Liman’s 1999 film Go captured the frantic energy of rave culture through a fragmented, multi-perspective narrative. Despite underperforming at the box office, the film launched the careers of stars like Sarah Polley and Timothy Olyphant, ultimately earning critical acclaim for its sharp dialogue and relentless, high-octane pacing.

Written by John August and directed by Doug Liman, Go follows three intertwining stories set during the Christmas season. The plot centers on Ronna, a supermarket clerk who attempts to sell ecstasy to pay her rent, only to find herself caught in a police sting. The film employs a narrative structure that restarts the story from different perspectives—Ronna’s, a group of friends on a trip to Las Vegas, and two soap opera actors coerced into working for a detective. This technique drew comparisons to Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, a connection August acknowledged as both a blessing and a curse for the film's reception.

Liman utilized a guerrilla filmmaking style to manage the production, often shooting with a handheld camera and without permits. The project faced significant hurdles, including the loss of foreign financing because it lacked a bankable male star. Columbia Pictures eventually stepped in, raising the budget to about $5 million. Liman famously prioritized the film's visual intensity, dedicating nearly a third of his budget to a single car chase on the Las Vegas Strip, while forcing the cast and crew to work at a grueling pace to maintain momentum.

The film’s casting process was highly competitive, attracting young actors who recognized the quality of the script. Sarah Polley was cast as Ronna after Liman saw her performance in The Sweet Hereafter, while Timothy Olyphant secured the role of the dealer Todd Gaines after being fired from another project. Upon release, Go grossed $28.5 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. While some critics dismissed it as a derivative 'knock-off' of late-nineties cinema, others praised its wit and style. Over time, the film has been recognized for its influence, with writers of The Simpsons citing it as the inspiration for their 'Trilogy of Error' episode.

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