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IGBY GOES DOWN Send This Review to a Friend
For a film that opens with two young men in the process of killing their mother--we only understand the circumstances later-- it is surprising to learn that "Igby Goes Down" is a witty, gallows humor comedy about an upper-class teenage misfit trying to find himself. Igby, portrayed by Kieran Culkin in one of the best performances of 2002, is a close resemblance in spirit to the hapless Holden Caulfield of "Catcher in the Rye." In this case he has contempt for his controlling mother (Susan Sarandon in another of her fine performances) and shows his rebellious side by getting kicked out of every prep school that his mother manages to get him into, as well as fleeing from a military academy into which he is shunted. Igby is filled with self-loathing and self-doubt, which he channels into hostility toward others and to the world of affluence.
In this fascinating, entertaining and sometimes moving tale cleverly written and smartly directed by Burr Steers, Igby's life is one of endless complications. His suave older brother Oliver, played with understated haughtiness by Ryan Phillippe, is a particular object of his resentment, and the feeling is mutual. The two temporary bright spots in his life result from older women who find his attitude and patter seductive. One is Rachel (Amanda Peet), who lives in a pad that's also a dance studio and is being kept by D. H. Banes (Jeff Goldblum), who happens to be Igby's well-heeled godfather. She's not exactly the person he should have sex with. And he's not the one she should be doing it with either. The experience is short-lived.
A much closer entanglement is with Sookie (Claire Danes); he's the more seriously smitten one. Oliver, on the other hand, is more her age. You can see the problem that must arise. Igby's world also includes drug dealing for a time. In short, his life is a mess that moves from crisis to crisis, and his hope of leaving New York with Sookie is sure to be dashed. Igby is unforgiving to nearly everyone, including himself, and even his mother's bout with cancer doesn't arouse sympathy, at least any to which he can admit. He does work up compassion for his mentally ill father (Bill Pullman), who has a breakdown early in the film under the pressure he feels, posing the question of whether Igby might similarly succumb.
The film is kept bubbling along by the witty dialogue and the sympathy worked up for Igby by the writing and Culkin's savvy acting plus the excellent in-tune performances by supporting cast members. The film also has integrity. There is no attempt to subvert it into much safer sitcom-like comedy. The filmmaker's outlook is as rebellious as that of his title character. "Igby Goes Down" is enjoyably different and should be sought out as a film of importance with commensurate rewards.
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