underfire35

(2013-05-22 13:53:55)

Terminally Quirky...

IGBY GOES DOWN is another entry in the "oh-so-witty-screwed-up-teen"genre. Every character is ingrained with so many quirks and cleverasides that it is difficult to take any of them seriously. The onlyones that escape from this mess intact are Susan Sarandon (who has beenspreading herself rather thin) and Jeff Goldblum (former Mr.Blockbuster, who now toils in films like CATS & DOGS). These two actorsrepresent the only above average aspects of IGBY GOES DOWN. The otheractors range from serviceable (Danes, Peet) to bad, i.e. Kieran Culkin.(It's well time that the film industry cashes out of the Culkin family,they made money, great, move on and remember the good times.) KieranCulkin simply cannot carry this film, even though it is light-weightfare, and does not require much from any of the actors.The plot follows the exploits of Igby, a spoiled recalcitrant brat, whoupset with his life escapes to New York. There amongst carefully chosencolorful locales he becomes embroiled in the lives of his uncle, hisuncle's coked-out mistress, the cartoonish drag queen she lives with,etc... He falls in love and deals drugs, hates his mother, blah, blah.All this set to a trendy soundscape of top-forty pop songs and a scorethat desperately wants to have been composed by Thomas Newman. Oh yeah,Igby also has a painful past involving his mentally-ill father (BillPullman), which by the revelation in the third act, gains little groundin explaining why Igby is an ***hole.I simply do not understand the praise this film has received. Otherthan being slap-handedly amateurish in its handling of the material, itis for the most part poorly acted. The sloppy sentiment that crops upwhenever the film decides to care about what is going on, doesn't helpeither. The most complex thing about Igby is the dialogue he spouts,but it sounds written, rehearsed. Quirky does not equal good--Igbyreminds me of an ornate marsh reed...yes, on the outside it may seeminteresting, but on further inspection it is simply hollow. 1/10.

saimahuq

(2013-05-22 03:58:59)

interesting core plot

Igby (Kieran Culkin) and his older brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe) open thefilm by putting a plastic bag over their sleeping mother's head (SusanSarandon.) From there the film explains the brothers' upbringing -- their childhoodwith a severely depressed father (Bill Paxton), overbearing mother, sleazydebonair godfather (Jeff Goldblum). The movie also moves to present day whenIgby meets older woman Suki (Clair Danes) as well as his married godfather'smistress (Amanda Peet) after a brief bout at military school. There aretorrid ill-fated liaisons with both women as Igby figures out what he'sdoing in this world and how and with whom he should go about it.All of these subtle and life-changing situations culminate back to thebedroom to explain exactly what is behind the plastic bag on their mother'shead. It is cleverly done, although at times there seems to be too manycharacters. Peet's character didn't seem all that necessary to thestoryline, just to illustrate what a sleaze his godfather was then do drugsad nauseum.

LanGorr

(2013-05-20 04:39:00)

Too Cynical, Not as Stylish or Clever as it Wishes

What was this movie made for? As a coming of age story, it's unoriginal.Asa drama about dysfunctional families, it's hardly believable. Its onlystrong points are its unusual, half-amusing characters, and decent visualstyle.I assume we are not supposed to take the characters seriously as realpeople. They typically had one motivation each, and if their actionsdidn'tfit that motivation, they made no sense. And there was nearly no attempttomake the characters sympathetic to us. Some awful things happen to them,butthey're awful people who bring their fates (except the illnesses of Igby'sparents) on themselves.Igby himself is despicable, and his cock-sure attitude brings him down,justwhere the audience wants him. The only sympathetic, believable moment hehasis in bed with his mother near the end. He seems to have escaped themovie's, and its characters', inhuman level of cynicism. Of course, in thenext scene, he's on the phone with relatives as his old cartoon of aperson.After the unreality of these characters, the movie's style is all thatremains. Admittedly, the characters are all created and portrayed to theamusement of the audience. They trade clever, acerbic, and sometimesactually funny, lines with each other. Costuming and interior design fitthestylish caricatures-of-people that inhabit them nicely. The bittersweetsoundtrack tries to make us more sympathetic to the characters' hardships,but doesn't really succeed. There is also some symbolism here and there;compare Igby's mother's illness and her relationship with herchildren.This movie's story and style seem informed by, but much less cohesivethan,Wes Anderson's Rushmore, and possibly Royal Tanenbaums. Ang Lee's IceStormis a darker and more stylish, but nearly as unrealistic, film aboutwealthydysfunctional families. For a genuinely enjoyable, subversive, and morerealistic coming-of-age story, read JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, fromwhich Igby's character and story are largely borrowed.

Edgar L. Davis

(2013-05-19 13:32:15)

Some brilliant moment in a sea of aimless destruction

If you've read Catcher In the Rye and seen Harold and Maude, there is noreason to see Igby Goes Down. It was a nice attempt at dealing with theangst of a young born into a family(and world)of lunatics, but this filmgave me no one to root for. None of the characters seem to be trying veryhard to make a life for themselves so I often found myself wondering, "Whyshould I sit here and watch behavior that is not only destructive butaimless?"At least Harold and Maude had a sense of humor. At least Holden Caufield hadsome balls. There are brilliant moment from Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman andSusan Sarandon but the younger actors are wasted (only Claire Dane managesto get her head above the swill).

jaturner01

(2013-05-17 20:16:44)

Nothing special

This movie is watered, watered, watered down version of Wes Andersons"Rushmore". Except Rushmore was WAY more exciting.The only problem is that you have no real closer of themovie.The movie takes a while to get you interested enough to keep from turningitoff.

howie73

(2013-05-17 08:14:11)

Smart-ass comedy with indie pretensions

This self-consciously outrГѓВ© dark comedy has some funny moments but thecharacters are so unsympathetic that we don't really care enough to seewhat happens as the film progresses. Igby Goes Down embodies anaffected hip vibe that seems a bit forced at times. It's at its bestwhen moments of eccentric comedy happen. The performances are all goodbut the lead character played by Culkin is too self-absorbed in his ownCatcher in the Rye- style trials; although he is the most sympatheticof the bunch which is saying something. The only other noteworthyperformance is from Susan Sarandon who has much fun playing the awfulUpper East Side WASP mother. Clare Danes is wasted in a slight part.Despite these misgivings, there are some bizarre moments that provethat American film can still be inventive.

(2013-05-16 21:15:13)

Surprisingly entertaining, but not sympathetic to weak people

Igby Goes Down was by no means a terrible film. I would classify it asa dark comedy with a lot of drama. The movie was filmed well and has avery bizarre cast of characters. I thought Kieran Culkin did an awesomejob and was perfect for the character. My only problem with the moviewas the forced emotions that they tried to pressure on you. Everycharacters so called problems were simply self-created and I'm sorrybut I can't feel sorry for some spoiled kid who never had a job in hislife and can't handle the harsh upper-class lifestyle in New York.Claire Danes is a skank in the movie... nothing more. Her characterstarts off OK, but then ure like, WOW she is nothing but a whore andwhy should I feel sorry for her. Altogether I like this movie, it isthe definition of an independent movie.- VideoGameHollywood.com

Grace787

(2013-05-16 04:28:40)

laughing, crying, or both

My review will be biased, because "Igby Goes Down" touched me on adeeply personal level. First off, as a New Yorker - the film set in NYC -Ihad an appreciation for this movie that only someone with a trueunderstanding of the city could possibly feel. (I would go into furtherdetail here, but that a New Yorker's connection to New York is quitefranklyinexplicable to an outsider.) But beyond that, there were many elementsofIgby's life that were eerily similar to my own, particularly in terms offamily dynamics (sans the wealth).Hence, I resent Dirtysoap's reference to Igby's troubles as "sorrylittle problems." I assure you that there is nothing slight aboutdivorcedand bickering parents, a broken family, an unemployed, self-destructive,schizophrenic father, a cold, vain, brutal mother, a mean-spirited,back-stabbing brother, abuse by a family member, and drug addiction.LocoLady77 also severely misunderstood the emotional dilemnas of thefilm,thinking Igby's pain to be centered around money ("oh whyyyy was i bornrich? whyyyyy? i HATE being rich"). She goes on to say, "if this movie isatrue depiction of real life, i can see why igby hates it so completelyandtotally." Well, unfortunately, it can be a 'true depiction of real life,'and Igby is angry at it, perplexed by it, sorrowed by it, and completelylost and alone. To say he hated it reveals the one-dimensionalperspectivefrom which you watched the film.Granted, the movie is obviously not for all. Helps to be acquaintedwith New York, helps even more so to have had some scarring experiencesinlife. But I know many from elsewhere, say LA, who live rosy little lives,and still fell in love with the movie for its piercing wit and charm. Iwould say it is much more a film for the younger generations, but pastlovers of Catcher in the Rye should enjoy it as well.It is a smart, sharp, hilarious, and beautiful film. Flawed, yes,butwhat isn't. Read JNM1981's comment. It sums up Igbybrilliantly.

kenjha

(2013-05-15 02:45:23)

Film Goes South

High school dropout bums around. Igby seems to be modeled after HoldenCaulfield from "Catcher in the Rye," except that he is an unappealing,self-absorbed brat. In fact, none of the characters here is the leastbit appealing. In his film debut as writer and director, Steers triesvery hard to be hip with an unconventional storytelling style but hepretty much falls flat on his face. For no apparent reason, the filmstarts with the Sarandon character being murdered by her sons; thishappens during the opening credits so this is not a spoiler. It thengoes back to fill in the blanks, clumsily moving about in time in ahelter skelter fashion. The film has no flow and becomes a drag.

Scott Youngbauer

(2013-05-14 17:23:59)

Bravo Igby

Igby goes Down is one of wittiest films of 2002. Keirn Culkin is outstanding. Got screwed out of an Oscar Nomination.

JimF

(2013-05-13 15:48:19)

This Decade's "Harold and Maude"

Kieran Culkin plays a misfit adolescent with priveleged upbringing, not unalike that poineered by Bud Cort in the early 70s "Harold and Maude". But while Harold was obsessed with tragedy and redeemed by love, Kieran Culkin's title character of this film is seemingly obsessed with his own directionless existence, overlooked by love and ultimately redeemed by tragedy.In comparing the two films and their title characters, however, Igby pales severely. Because Igby is so chronically sarcastic and cynical, he crosses the border into being obnoxious. He is not a guy I would have ever wanted to hang out with. But just at the point where you just want to reach into the screen and slap him silly, the humility and fragility of his character shows through that we actually begin to try to understand him.The film has a sort of meandering narrative, but it is saved by the extraordinary acting of its players. Kieran Culkin in the title role is perfect. His egocentric mother is played by Susan Sarandon, and the performance is right on-target. Ryan Philippe is despicable as Igby's stuffy young-Republican brother. Bill Pullman is great as Igby's scitzophrenic father, although he appears in just a handful of scenes. Jeff Goldblum is surprisingly good as Igby's wealthy entrepreneurial father. But outshining the entire cast is Amanda Peet as the godfather's dancer/paramour and Claire Daines as Sookie, a sort of anti-Jewish-American-Princess attending a prestigious liberal arts college. She is a young woman as equally lost as Igby.

(2013-05-13 09:49:06)

meh

This movie starts out good till about 1/2 way through when you stop believing it. All the actors are cast in roles that they always seem to play. I don't know, its good but really 1/2 way through it starts to suck, sound track in all. But its got an interesting plot. I'd rent this film first maybe, see if you like it.

sommerjd

(2013-05-11 22:58:28)

Jeff Goldblum Wasted Again....

This is a quirky little movie that ultimately leaves a bad taste in theviewer's mouth. Perhaps that's inevitable in a film about dysfunctionalrelationships, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch. It's acoming of age movie about young Igby, his brother, and his overbearingmother. The movie, while surprising at times, follows the predictablearc by the end. There are some excellent performances here by KieranCulkin in the lead role, Claire Danes, and Susan Sarandon. Perhaps themost affecting performance, small as it is, is given by Bill Pullman,whose work is sensitive and moving. It's always great to see JeffGoldblum on screen, but once again it's a shame that Goldblum (andMichael Keaton, for that matter) appears so rarely as the lead in acomedy; they are simply the most talented comic actors--notcomedians--of their generation, talents sadly misused and underused.OK, so to get back to business: I'm sure glad I didn't fire up thefamily chariot, drive to the multiplex, and fork out $20 for two tix tothis film. It was worth a rental fee and the comfort of my living room.I won't watch it again, however.

(2013-05-11 06:09:45)

A poetic movie

I cant believe how closely this resembled my high school life going to a new england prep school-the same angst..the weight that Igby talks about...the end of innocence. I thought that the main actor was incredible in this part. Beautiful and gawky with the right amount of smart ass and broken little boy. This movie combines this sad wistful spirit with an amazing sarcastic humor. The Characters are wonderful, the story is amazing, the setting (NYC) is perfect and the soundtrack is perfect. This movie reminds me of a beautiful Japanese poem; wistful, deep, entertaining and an experience to dwell on and repeat.

(2013-05-06 08:44:47)

Not too bad

Not a bad film. Not too bad at all. I'm not really interested in writing a review at this moment. Deal with it.

Jayne Sherman

(2013-05-05 18:58:21)

Half emotional, half intellectual

Igby Goes Down is a study of the title character, a 17-year-old boystruggling to break free from a difficult family situation. Igby, ablyplayed by Kieran Culkin, escapes the grasp of his domineering mother (thesuperb Susan Sarandon) for a period of time and rattles around New YorkCity, where sex, drugs and violence are everywhere. Igby lacks direction. His only plan is a vague idea of moving toCalifornia, but he seems to have no idea what he will do when he gets there. In the mean time, he finds a place to stay in New York with the mistress(Amanda Peet) of his godfather (Jeff Goldblum) but that gets complicated. Arelationship with a girl he meets at a party (Clare Danes) is moremeaningful and involving but that situation gets complicated also, with thearrival of Igby's brother (Ryan Phillippe). We've seen this type of set-up before, but first-time director Burr Steersgives us an interesting blend of intellect and emotionalism that avoidslisting too far in either direction. The humor in this film wryly pointsout the inherent absurdity of life and makes the difficult bits easier todeal with, much the same as it is in the real world.The acting is first-rate here. Bill Pullman has a short but intense turn asthe boys' father and Susan Sarandon does her usual excellent job. KieranCulkin shows a lot of promise; it will be interesting to see what heaccomplishes in the future.The great shame is that this film has received neither publicity nor widedistribution. It seems early in the year for it to be merely a briefrelease for Oscar consideration, but I hope that's the case and a reasonableamount of publicity and wider release will follow.

(2013-05-04 10:39:44)

More teen pap

It was GREAT! It was better than ever expected, and to own it on DVD is going to be a dream come true. Kieran is the next River Phoenix (except with more wit and sarcasm) he is something to watch - a rising star!This movie has some great performances also by Goldblum and Sarandon - not to be missed, a collector's item for sure in my DVD collection...

(2013-05-03 15:47:25)

Great movie

the cast, the script, the whole flow is wonderfulgreat acting from the cast- they fit the roles perfectlyhas a Salinger quality to it, 5 stars

darkwaterfaery

(2013-04-23 15:43:37)

Dynamic relationships plus wit equal a great film!

If you miss this movie, you're missing a window to a greaterunderstanding of how people cope with the complications and strugglesof life. Many elements of life's hardships and vices are represented.There are heroin addicted starving artists; an affluent husband andfather cracking from the pressure; a cold and calculating business man;a young man searching for a higher level of understanding so as not tomake the same mistakes as his family.I remembered this film about a week ago and decided, after recommendingit to some friends, to see it again. I had forgotten the level of witand sarcasm in each characters dialog. Clare Danes does an outstandingjob as Sookie. Keiran Culkin really shines as Igby. His best role todate. Ryan Phillipe, takes on his usual role of a deviant intellectualfrom the Upper East side. There is just the right amounts of sexual frustration and heart breakalong with high class sophistication and superficiality. The brothers,Igby and Oliver, try to figure out where their relationship stands astheir seemingly cold-hearted mother dies. Then there are the triangles:between DH, Igby and Rachel, and the triangle between Igby, Sookie andOllie. All of the roles are dynamic. Every character relates in a verysarcastic or dry manor. DH is all about business. Mimi, just trying tokeep everything together and make sure her children are taken care of,while maintaining an air of independence. Igby's been kicked out everyschool his mother has enrolled him in. Desperate not to crack like hisfather. The movie also provides a couple of great twists. If you payclose enough attention to the relationships as they develop in themovie you can see them coming.

jeomo

(2013-04-23 06:18:26)

The Most Perfect Movie

People often ask, what's your favorite movie? or which movie do you thinkisthe best of all time? I've always said that, if you really like movies,those questions are unanswerable. But now I can say, without hesitation,that the most perfect movie I've ever seen is Igby Goes Down. Every line,every scene, every gesture, and every performance in this movie isjust...perfect. Don't miss it!