DirectorDoug Limanis set to take on the seemingly insurmountable task of turningStephen King’s enormous magnum opus,The Stand, into a feature film. Twenty-six years ago, he tackled another project with a dizzying array of intersecting narratives and made a movie that won over critics but disappointed at the box office — and soon you’ll be able to watch it at its new streaming home. The acclaimed 1999 crime comedyGois coming to Paramount+ on July 1.
The film was Liman’s third film, and the first after the sleeper-hit success of his sophomore effort,Swingers; that film not only launched Liman’s career, but those of starsJon FavreauandVince Vaughn. Penning the script wasJohn August;Gowas his first produced screenplay, but he would go on to write the first twoCharlie’s Angelsfilms,Guy Ritchie’sAladdin, and a litany ofTim Burtonprojects, includingBig Fish,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, andFrankenweenie. The movie was critically acclaimed and currently holds a 91% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it never gained traction in a May 1999 box office landscape dominated byThe Matrix, and made $28.5 million against a $20 million budget.
What Is ‘Go’ About?
Taking place at Christmas,Gokicks off when closeted soap opera actors Adam and Zack (Scott WolfandJay Mohr) approach overworked supermarket clerk Ronna (Sarah Polley), looking to buy some ecstasy. Needing the money, she seeks out drug dealer Todd (Timothy Olyphant), but gets suspicious of Adam and Zack’s associate, Burke (William Fichtner)…and with good reason, because he’s an undercover cop. Meanwhile, Simon (Desmond Askew), who was supposed to be Adam and Zack’s source, is on a trip to Vegas with his buddies, leaving disaster in their wake. Because it’s 1999, all the characters are destined to collide at a massive rave. The stacked cast also featuresTaye Diggs,Katie Holmes,Jane Krakowski, and, in her film debut,Melissa McCarthy.
DespiteGo’s disappointing take at the box office, many of its cast would go on to have wildly successful careers, making it an interesting snapshot of 1999 Hollywood. Liman, especially, was bound for glory: his next film,The Bourne Identity, was a box office smash and launched a successful action franchise. His next project is directingThe Stand, an adaptation of Stephen King’s epic tale of good and evil in a post-pandemic America.
Gowill beavailable on Paramount+ starting July 1. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
