Igby Goes Down
2002 Directed by Burr Steers
Synopsis
A young man's peculiar upbringing renders him unable to competently cope with the struggle of growing up.
Cast
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So many babes all in one film. Kieran Culkin is fantastic. Maybe my favourite Culkin? It's a close call. Of course Jeff is flawless. The relationship between Igby and all the adults in his life are very entertaining to watch, a nice, short, dark film.
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Kieran, my favourite Culkin.
He is great as Igby, and watching him 'go down' is a dark, depressing, unusual, unpredictable and uproarious. It has a great soundtrack. A great cast, and a great Claire Danes.
Indie doesn't get much better.
Massive enjoyment.
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I was skeptical about this film due to the showy and attention seeking title, and my deep hatred of teenagers.
But, my love of the Culkins' prevailed and I'm glad it did, as Igby Goes Down was thoroughly enjoyable and featured a great performance from Kieran Culkin (and my favorite, Rory Culkin, as the young Igby).
Even Claire Danes and Ryan Phillippe couldn't ruin this, and really, isn't that the highest praise a film can receive?Also, the door scene near the end is far better than the door scene in Basketball Diaries, as far as door scenes go.
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This seemed like a natural choice for a back-to-back double feature with "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", for specific reasons I can't explain. I guess they both focus on a troubled teen antagonist, even though Charlie of "Perks" and Igby are wildly different souls.
This is my first viewing of the film since it was released ten years ago, and I think it doesn't hold up nearly as well this time for a couple of reasons. I think I took an automatic loving to the film back then because I was the same age as Igby, so it had something extra for me to relate to right off the bat. The biggest reason it doesn't hold up as much…
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This movie was a means of catharsis for me. My watching behaviour was slightly unhealthy. Too much Jeff Goldblum is never good. I know better now. I think I was depressed.
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A wonderful coming of age tale that's free of the typical schmaltz that's usually associated with the type. It's full of complexities in both the story and the characters that make it feel more authentic than your usual cinematic dealings with facing life. Horrible things happen in this film but it somehow is able to get across that feeling of humor when you look back upon such events years later as a way of dealing with them. It feels true, even with the stock wealthy and artsy characters. Kiera Culkin is great at showing range from overly emotional to a subtle wry smile. And I think this was the last time Jeff Goldblum had a meaty role before the world…
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So many babes all in one film. Kieran Culkin is fantastic. Maybe my favourite Culkin? It's a close call. Of course Jeff is flawless. The relationship between Igby and all the adults in his life are very entertaining to watch, a nice, short, dark film.
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A wonderful coming of age tale that's free of the typical schmaltz that's usually associated with the type. It's full of complexities in both the story and the characters that make it feel more authentic than your usual cinematic dealings with facing life. Horrible things happen in this film but it somehow is able to get across that feeling of humor when you look back upon such events years later as a way of dealing with them. It feels true, even with the stock wealthy and artsy characters. Kiera Culkin is great at showing range from overly emotional to a subtle wry smile. And I think this was the last time Jeff Goldblum had a meaty role before the world…
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I saw this, but I don't remember it at all. This is just the IMDB rating I gave it at the time.
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Mix coming of age with a highly dysfunctional family, throw in some witty dialogue and stellar performances by a top-notch cast and I will probably love the shit out of your movie.
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My only problem with this film is the character of Igby, you're supposed to feel some sort of sympathy for him but I just end up hating the guy, because of his actions. Kieran Culkin though is fantastic as is the rest of the cast, that scene between Igby and Dane's character when Igby is banging on her door was pretty well. Nice job by Steers.
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Igby goes down is a coming of age story about a rebellious kid that has no real sense of direction. He comes from a broken family, his father's in a mental hospital and his mother is a total bitch. Or is she? Since we follow the Igby's perspective the whole time it is hard to tell.
This movie is probably closest in spirit to Catcher in the Rye. Igby reminds me a lot Holden Caufield. I liked the movie, but I was expecting to love the movie. Partly, because Anderson (of the Film Vault pitched this as a black comedy) and it felt more like a coming of age film. -
Okay, watching the title character fall instantly into the role everyone's favorite, funny friend made me enjoy the film a great deal, but, honestly, what's all this stuff here at the end, with the weeping and the rude interruption of cynicism and the sudden shift from a Holden Caulfield-esque classically revered every man to the lead in corn ball production of "The Summer that Changed My Life"? Culkin spits out Steers dialogue like a youthful Mamet wise guy, smirking about in the most adorable way, but his role is pivotal only because of a rare, absolutely flawless supporting cast. (See Almost Any Movie as an example of the ever constant stream of uneven casting that's commonplace nowadays). Phillipe is suitably…
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Odd, mesmerizing, and absolutely unpredictable -- it's one of those movies you give up on trying to second-guess as you realize you have no idea where it's going. Kieran Culkin is Igby, a teen malcontent with a dad in the loony bin (Bill Pullman), a relentlessly monstrous mom (Susan Sarandon), and a "young Republican fascist" older brother (Ryan Phillippe). The movie tracks Igby in his various attempts to flee this dysfunctional family.
In its tone (morose yet restless) and structure, it reminded me a little of Rushmore, but Burr Steers' debut feature is an original, with fine performances across the board (don't let the Culkin name scare you away -- Kieran is no Macaulay) and the smartest dialogue in recent…
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The ensemble is having a sinfully good time, if a bit smug at times. Kieran Culkin nails it here and Susan Sarandon is quite fun. Celia Weston, in a bit part, is expectedly fabulous.mi wish the film gelled a little more, though.