Igby Goes Down: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Scripts)

Rating:
Summary: Discover the meaning of life... or whatever.
Review: "Igby Goes Down" is the sort of first movie that most directors dream of -- cast of stars (Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon, Ryan Phillipe), sharp polished story, and just enough surreality to keep it from being dull. This warped coming-of-age tale is shown in its original screenplay format here.

Igby has flunked out of virtually every prep school his elite, rich family has sent him to. Now he's being sent to military school -- but he has no intention of staying. So he flees to the heart of New York, living in the loft where his godfather's mistress lives and hanging around with a beautiful college bohemian called Sookie. But Igby's life begins to unravel when his secret is found out, and Sookie falls in love with his brother.

Burr Steers certainly had a good thing going when he wrote "Igby Goes Down." It's a bit hard to follow if you haven't watched the film, since the movie has only a vague sort of plot. But Steers keeps it interesting with lots of witty dialogue and intricate details (he even describes what kind of shirt Sookie should wear in one scene). It's hard to believe that this was his first screenplay -- the end result is that polished.

That isn't to say that the screenplay really comes alive by itself. Without the vibrant sullenness of Kieran Culkin, Igby seems a lot less interesting and sympathetic, and Ollie seems much less cold without Ryan Phillipe's deadpan performance. And there are some scenes (like a freakish dream Igby has about Mimi) that never made it to the screen.

Adding to the interest is a series of black-and-white stills from the movie, and some production notes at the back. The notes include the origins of "Igby Goes Down," information on Steers, and what the actors have to say about their characters. It makes for interesting reading.

Lovers of teen rebels will probably like "Igby Goes Down," and people who loved the film will enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at the screenplay and production.

Rating:
Summary: Discover the meaning of life... or whatever.
Review: "Igby Goes Down" is the sort of first movie that most directors dream of -- cast of stars (Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon, Ryan Phillipe), sharp polished story, and just enough surreality to keep it from being dull. This warped coming-of-age tale is shown in its original screenplay format here.

Igby has flunked out of virtually every prep school his elite, rich family has sent him to. Now he's being sent to military school -- but he has no intention of staying. So he flees to the heart of New York, living in the loft where his godfather's mistress lives and hanging around with a beautiful college bohemian called Sookie. But Igby's life begins to unravel when his secret is found out, and Sookie falls in love with his brother.

Burr Steers certainly had a good thing going when he wrote "Igby Goes Down." It's a bit hard to follow if you haven't watched the film, since the movie has only a vague sort of plot. But Steers keeps it interesting with lots of witty dialogue and intricate details (he even describes what kind of shirt Sookie should wear in one scene). It's hard to believe that this was his first screenplay -- the end result is that polished.

That isn't to say that the screenplay really comes alive by itself. Without the vibrant sullenness of Kieran Culkin, Igby seems a lot less interesting and sympathetic, and Ollie seems much less cold without Ryan Phillipe's deadpan performance. And there are some scenes (like a freakish dream Igby has about Mimi) that never made it to the screen.

Adding to the interest is a series of black-and-white stills from the movie, and some production notes at the back. The notes include the origins of "Igby Goes Down," information on Steers, and what the actors have to say about their characters. It makes for interesting reading.

Lovers of teen rebels will probably like "Igby Goes Down," and people who loved the film will enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes look at the screenplay and production.

Rating:
Summary: Script + Stills + Notes
Review: Nice movie. This book has the script (118 pages), a few pages of black and white stills, and the production notes. There's also a two page intro by the film's writer/director, to tell you what it's about, in case you don't get it.