Rating: 
Summary: Is there anything higher than five stars?
Review: What a fantastic, brilliant, well-acted movie! It poignantly brings to light the plight of the so-called upper-class, the pseudo-bohemian new wavers who live for money, drugs, and casual encounters, all through the eyes of a seventeen year old boy who has grown up among them. This all-star cast is perfection, but nobody stands out more than young Kieran Culkin, who is proving himself to be the next big-name talent. The scene where he breaks down over his mothers corpse is impossibly poignant and moving... I can't rave enough about this movie.
The humor is dark and understated, but definitely there. The whole film has this subtle irony to it, especially when it comes to Igby's godfather. Igby is a clever and astute young man, his brother (Ryan Philippe) is empathetic while being despicable, his mother is neurotic and hateable, his father likeable, his landlady is pathetic, his girlfriend is lovable... in short, all of these characters are strikingly real. If you have a brain and a sense of the ridiculous, you will definitely love this movie. If not, still rent it. Maybe you'll learn something :)
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie.
Review: I thought "Igby Goes Down" was a wonderful movie. As others have said, it must have been based on Catcher in the Rye. It was one of those movies that is painful to watch if you have empathy for characters (along the lines of "Punch Drunk Love"). It's not really something you want to pop in the DVD player to relax and not think, which is why I think some people wouldn't enjoy it. But if you are looking for something stimulating and emotional, it is an excellent movie.
Rating: 
Summary: comments
Review: catcher in the rye? It has been mentioned that this movie is based on the Catcher in the Rye. Afterall they are both stories that revolve around a disillusioned prep school youth. However, this movie is not a film version of the book. Holden Caulfield's character is desribed foremost by his relationships and his thoughts on the people around him. He manages to find the fleshy side of all of his aquantances, even those who he despises. His commentary is thourough and critical, yet remains sympathetic . Igby is desribed by his relationships as well, but with these interactions we almost only see his pessimism and sarcasm. His critiques are plentiful, but we never really see him as any more than a young boy carelessly lashing out at a world that is, by his standards, so "f---ing hypocritical".He only seems to care about others when he is interested in having sex with them. And whereas Holden is a character plagued by paralysis and pensiveness, Igby is only too willing to sell drugs,run away, get expelled, and sleep with his uncle's mistress. In this way, the movie and book are different, and in this way, the book is far superior. cast and acting The cast that was assembled for this movie is for the most part famous. The casting of was very appropriate, and impressive given the film's small budget. The movie is Kieran Culkin's vehichle and he plays the rich boy smartass very well. The rest of the supporting cast are impressive and charismatic, especially jared harris and jeff goldblum. Ryan Phillipe seems to be perfectly well suited to the WASP character that he has already played in cruel intentions. The movie has some charm and its moments. The conversational sparring between Culkin and Harris in the New York, using a yoga ball as an illustrating prop was interesting and funny (Money bags... take me away!) . The absurd shrink at "Clipped Wings" is a fun comic interlude, and seems to be improvised.
Part of the fun of the movie is that, although it centers around pretentious people, It doesnt really take itself too seriously. There isn't revelatory. None of the characters change (except for dying) and the message seems to be less than clear. Igby is not a sympathetic character and it is hard to be sympathetic for him. The fun of watching the movie is seeing an ensemble of well knowns playing so succinctly in an entertaining indepndent film.
Rating: 
Summary: Whats the Point?!
Review: Come on, how can anyone like this stupid and pointless movie. When my sister wanted me to watch a movie called "Igby Goes Down" I said sure. Judging from the title and my sister's brief explanation I thought the movie was going to be about some disturbed kid who hates himself and everyone around him and at some point goes insane and starts shooting people. I quickly found out that my thoughts were wrong. The title of the movie doesn't even have to do with the movie except for the part where he's getting beat up and someone says "Igby goes down." I was thinking "ok, that was just stupid." The main character isn't someone you can like or feel sympathy for. He's just some random spoiled brat who gets what he wants. I grew a great hatred for that character inside me. I even started to laugh when Jeff Golblum's character starts beating him up in the hallway, just because it was so random and I was thinking about doing it throughout the whole movie. This movie is so incredibly pointless. I must be missing something because so many people like it and I have no idea why. The only character I liked in the movie was Bill Pullman's and he was barely even in it. If my sister were to buy this movie I would honestly take it and smash it to pieces. Thats how much I hate this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating portrait of a horrifying society
Review: Igby is a thorougly disagreeable 16-year old with way too much money, surrounded by thoroughly disagreeable parents and caretakers, so it is perhaps understandable that he drops out to live with (and sleep with) his godfather's drug-addict mistress and takes a job delivering drugs for her flamboyantly feminine dealer-boyfriend (a viciously homophobic stereotype who seems to be straight). The only aspect of the adult society that he approves of is heteronormativity, which is fortunate because every woman in the movie is desperate to engage in statutory rape with him (but they always dump him for older/more powerful men. A fascinating portrait of a horrifyingly amoral, soulless society, which characters whom you can't help despising. No one ever feels anything. Even godfather Jeff Goldblum, who offers pats on the back and summer job one moment and beats Igby to a pulp the next, feels neither love nor hate. It would get five stars, but the heteronormativity is extremely offensive.
Rating: 
Summary: I didn't like it
Review: I was really disappointed in the movie. The trailers made it look like this kid was going to be really different and alternative, but he seemed just kind of annoyed but not that amazing. I thought it was stupid.
Rating:
Summary: Tiring
Review: It's not that I can't see good in this movie...I can understand why so many people like it. I, however, found it very hard to watch--it was like a chore, and by the end I felt wrung out. It's not that I am not a fan of depressing films--I am. I've seen my share of Requiem and other such movies. This time, however, I just couldn't take it. The characters were intresting--well, mainly Igby. Claire Danes portrayed the typical cool, jaded, older college girl that is seen in so many films nowadays--you know, the character who always has an answer for everything, who never hesitates or slips up. Oh, and is it me or does Ryan Phillipe play the EXACT SAME CHARACTER in every movie he is in? Deju vu... Anyway, Igby was precocious and funny and carried the movie well (or as well as he could). Otherwise, it was a long hard journey that tried to be unique and original but was full of cliches. It was not without its moments but they were not enough to make up for the struggle it put me through. Bottom line: enjoyable for some, but not for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Kieran Culkin gets his day.
Review: When I started to watch this, I immediately compared Igby to Holden, there were similarities that I couldn't dismiss. However as I came to the end, Holden was nowhere in my mind, only Igby and his incredibly touching presence throughout this story. Kieran Culkin brought Igby to life in so many detailed ways, he made Igby more clever than I think even the director imagined him to be. What a pretty picture he painted, leaving me wanting more but being satisfied that I got to be a part of his life, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Those hours were golden. Pete Yorn's "Murray" is played as the end credits rolled. What an amazing surprise. Amazing song to end an amazing movie.
Rating:
Summary: Dont listen to the bad reviews
Review: This movie was wonderful. I truly enjoyed it, the acting was superb, the script was wonderful. It all fit together wonderfully. It had been months since i'd seen a good movie and i was starting to wonder when i'd finally see a good movie again, Igby Goes Down fufilled all my expectations. I loved Igby's dark humor, but then again i have a very dark sense of humor so this movie really aligned with me. But i really reccomend anyone looking for a dark comedy, or just a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Igby Goes Up
Review: Kieran Culkin has come a long way since his debut as the boy who wets his bed on "Home Alone". His Golden Globe nominated role on "Igby Goes Down" is the perfect movie to express that. It has many daring scenes that explore what few other producers dare. One must respect them for taking that big risk. Its creativity keeps the audience's eyes wide open curious to what happens next. Susan Sarandon, Ryan Phillippe, Amanda Peet, and Claire Danes add depth to the scenes with their wonderful acting. Igby, an almost adult, is tired of living with his mother. He leaves home soon before she discovers that she's dying of cancer. She thinks Igby is in a boarding school when actually, he's living in an apartment with a woman he's met a few times. His relationships with women and his living harshness add to the movie's climax giving a shocking conclusion. Some must watch it twice to fully understand the movie, but in the end, the audience will be happy.
|
