Igby Goes Down
"One of the best films this year!" -CNN
A stunning ensemble of stars including Kieran Culkin (The Cider House Rules), Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Philippe, Bill Pullman, and Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, illuminate this "scathingly funny" (Elle) dark comedy. Acclaimed by audiences and packing "an emotional wallop" (The New York Times), this "perfectly cast, perfectly written [movie is] the best coming-of-age film since The Graduate" (CNN)!
17-year-old rich kid Igby Slocumb is a rebel with a cause: to break free from his pill-popping mother, his schizophrenic dad and his fascist brother. Seduced by sexy older women and subverted by family and friends, the ever-resilient, witty and inventive Igby is determined to keep up-no matter what goes down.
Member Reviews
A lifeless world - Shawn_in_Montreal
... of stereotypes and straw men confront the central character, Igby, especially the monstrous and totally unconvincing mother, played by Susan Sarandon. (WHAT did Sarandon see in this role?). So writer/director Steers creates a world truly seen through the eyes of juvenile, where adults are portrayed as strangely unreal monsters and tyrants. It's a film too in love with its "edginess" to create a world we really care about.Cruel Intentions meets The Royal Tenenbaums. - cathyottawa
Dark comedy? I don't know about that. This may elicit a wry smile, but this isn't a movie that's meant to make you laugh.
This centers on Igby, a misunderstood teen who walks through the movie in his Harry Potter scarf, trying to be ironical and witty. He grew very tiresome for me. I didn't care about him, or his poor rich boy, teen angst schtick.
This has a good cast, and the acting is fine, but I didn't find the script as clever as the writer thought it was. And while the characters were interesting, particularily Amanda Peet's and Claire Dane's, the way they meet and interact often didn't ring true.
The story also didn't really go anywhere. I guess it can be summed up as a "finding yourself" film, against the backdrop of a dysfunctional, cold family.
I do like Kieran Culkin, and this film shows his potential. There seems to be a never ending supply of Culkin boys - Kieran's character as a child is played by his real life brother, Rory in the film. They should have cast Macaulay in the Ryan Phillippe role (who's recycling his Cruel Intentions performance here) and made this a real family affair!Go with the erratic flow - Yane
A story like Igby's could only be told through the incredible characters that populate this movie.
The picture follows the erratic and convoluted story of a young man reaching adulthood, making a lot of philosophical and unorthodox stops along the way. From his deeply neurotic family situation to the life he tries to make for himself, Igby is a character that attracts the most marvelous individuals in that they have something to tell and they stand by it. This is the kind of movie where you desperately want to know what happens to who simply for curiosity's sake. It is in no way an attempt at a comment or discussion on what we all do with our lives, but rather an example of what path one might choose to follow and the experiences that come with it. There is no lesson, no conflict to solve or obstacle to overcome, only a series of crazy, funny, sad and pretty ordinary moments. Just like life.
Member Reviews
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A lifeless world - Shawn_in_Montreal
... of stereotypes and straw men confront the central character, Igby, especially the monstrous and totally unconvincing mother, played by Susan Sarandon. (WHAT did Sarandon see in this role?). So writer/director Steers creates a world truly seen through the ...Cruel Intentions meets The Royal Tenenbaums. - cathyottawa
Dark comedy? I don't know about that. This may elicit a wry smile, but this isn't a movie that's meant to make you laugh.
This centers on Igby, a misunderstood teen who walks through the movie in his Harry Potter scarf, trying to be ironical and witty. ...Go with the erratic flow - Yane
A story like Igby's could only be told through the incredible characters that populate this movie.
The picture follows the erratic and convoluted story of a young man reaching adulthood, making a lot of philosophical and unorthodox stops along the way. ...