Igby Goes Down

Last updated

Igby Goes Down
Igby Goes Down.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Burr Steers
Written byBurr Steers
Produced byDavid Rubin
Lisa Tornell
Trish Hofmann
Starring Kieran Culkin
Claire Danes
Jeff Goldblum
Amanda Peet
Ryan Phillippe
Bill Pullman
Susan Sarandon
CinematographyWedigo von Schultzendorff
Edited by William M. Anderson
Robert Frazen
Padraic McKinley
Music by Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Production
companies
United Artists
Atlantic Streamline
Distributed by MGM Distribution Co.
Release date
  • September 13, 2002 (2002-09-13)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9 million [1]
Box office$6.9 million [1]

Igby Goes Down is a 2002 American comedy-drama film that follows the life of Igby Slocumb, a rebellious and sardonic teenager who attempts to break free of his familial ties and wealthy, overbearing mother. The film was written and directed by Burr Steers, and stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Susan Sarandon, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Jared Harris. It was given a limited theatrical release through United Artists on September 13, 2002, in the United States, and received generally positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Culkin and Sarandon received Golden Globe nominations for their performances. [2]

Plot

Jason "Igby" Slocumb Jr. is a misanthropic 17-year-old boy, rebelling against the oppressive world of his strict East Coast "old money" family. Igby fears that he will eventually suffer a mental breakdown like his schizophrenic father, Jason, who has been committed to an institution. His mother, Mimi, is self-absorbed and distant and tends to drink heavily. Igby mockingly describes his ambitious older brother Ollie as a fascist or a Young Republican who studies "neo-fascism" (economics) at Columbia University.

Igby figures that there must be a better life out there, and he sets out to find it, rebelling against his family at every opportunity. After happily flunking out of several prep schools, he ends up in a brutal military academy where he gets beaten by his classmates. After escaping and spending time in a Chicago hotel courtesy of his mother's credit card, Igby is sent to New York for the summer to stay with his godfather, successful real estate magnate D. H. Banes.

While working construction for D. H., Igby first encounters Rachel, his godfather's Edie Sedgwick-influenced, heroin-addicted trophy mistress. Rather than return to school, he escapes into the bohemian underworld of Manhattan, hiding out with Rachel and her performance artist friend Russel at her studio owned by D. H. Eventually, he and Rachel have sex. After being found at the studio by D. H. and getting beaten up by Rachel for jeopardizing her living arrangements, he hooks up with terminally bored, part-time lover, Sookie, only for her to later leave him for Ollie.

Despite seeming cold and distant, Mimi is not unaffected by her rebellious son. She describes Igby's conception as an act of animosity and therefore believes that it shouldn't be a surprise that his life follows the same course. His name is explained as a family in-joke. As a child, he would blame his toy bear, Digby, for things he had done only he was mispronouncing it as "Igby". To get him to take responsibility for his actions, his family would call him Igby whenever he lied.

Igby is informed by D. H. that his mother Mimi is dying from breast cancer and so he returns to see her. She asks Igby to be present for her death. She has arranged to commit suicide with help from Ollie, who feeds her drug-laden strawberry yogurt before ultimately placing a plastic bag over her head.

Before she dies, Mimi makes a final revelation, casually inquiring of Igby, "I take it you know that D. H. is your father?" Igby visits his father Jason in the hospital before leaving for Los Angeles to finally make a clean break by getting 3,000 miles away from his family.

Cast

Production

Igby Goes Down was filmed in locations throughout New York City, including Central Park, Washington Square Park, and SoHo. It is one of the last films to show the Twin Towers of the original World Trade Center. [3]

Soundtrack

Igby Goes Down - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Compilation album by
Various
ReleasedFebruary 25, 2003
Genre Alternative rock, Indie rock
Label Spun

The soundtrack was released on February 25, 2003, by Spun Records. [4]

No.TitleArtistLength
1."The Weight" Travis 5:11
2."Not You"Underwater Circus4:00
3."Don't Panic" Coldplay 2:17
4."Everybody's Stalking" Badly Drawn Boy 3:39
5."Bohemian Like You" The Dandy Warhols 3:33
6."Anyway"Jelly Planet4:13
7."Frozen Tears"Somersault3:50
8."Youth Is Wasted on the Young"Driftland3:54
9."Broken Up a Ding Dong" The Beta Band 4:46
10."Boys Better" The Dandy Warhols 4:32
11."Insanity Is Relative" (Suite) Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen 2:58
12."Love and Remembrance" (Suite) Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen 2:46
13."Igby Goes Down" (Main Title) Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen 3:55

Additional music credits

Reception

Igby Goes Down received positive critical reaction, with a 76% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes; the consensus states: "In the vein of The Catcher in the Rye , Igby Goes Down is scathingly witty and sharply observant" [5] and a 72/100 on Metacritic. [6] Critics have compared aspects of the story to J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye. [7] [8] [9]

Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review and a grade of three and a half stars out of four. [9] Stephen Holden selected the film as a New York Times “Critic’s Pick" and credited it with "ruthless emotional honesty", stating, "Not a false note is sounded." [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Anywhere but Here</i> (film) 1999 comedy-drama film directed by Wayne Wang

Anywhere but Here is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy drama film based on the novel of the same name by Mona Simpson. It was directed by Wayne Wang from a screenplay by Alvin Sargent, and stars Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman, and Shawn Hatosy.

<i>Thelma & Louise</i> 1991 film by Ridley Scott

Thelma & Louise is a 1991 American crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as Louise and Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unforeseen circumstances. The supporting cast includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and Brad Pitt. Filming took place in California and Utah from June to August 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Phillippe</span> American actor (born 1974)

Matthew Ryan Phillippe is an American actor. After appearing as Billy Douglas on the soap opera One Life to Live (1992–1993) and making his feature film debut in Crimson Tide (1995), he came to prominence in the late 1990s with starring roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), 54 (1998), Playing by Heart (1998), and Cruel Intentions (1999).

<i>Home Alone 3</i> 1997 film by Raja Gosnell

Home Alone 3 is a 1997 American crime comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell in his directorial debut, written and co-produced by John Hughes. It stars Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Haviland Morris, David Thornton, Scarlett Johansson, Lenny Von Dohlen, Marian Seldes, and Rya Kihlstedt. The story follows Alex Pruitt, an 8-year-old boy who defends his home from a dangerous group of international criminals working for a North Korean terrorist organization. It is the third film in the Home Alone franchise.

<i>White Palace</i> (film) 1990 film by Luis Mandoki

White Palace is a 1990 American erotic romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. It stars Susan Sarandon, James Spader, Jason Alexander, Kathy Bates, Steven Hill, Jeremy Piven, and Renée Taylor. It was written by Ted Tally and Alvin Sargent, based on the novel of the same name by Glenn Savan.

<i>Deep Cover</i> 1992 film directed by Bill Duke

Deep Cover is a 1992 American crime thriller film directed by Bill Duke from a screenplay by Henry Bean and Michael Tolkin. The film stars Laurence Fishburne, Jeff Goldblum, and Charles Martin Smith. Its plot focuses on a Cincinnati-based police officer who goes undercover in a Los Angeles sting operation to bring down a West Coast drug cartel.

<i>Twilight</i> (1998 film) 1998 thriller/Neo-noir film directed by Robert Benton

Twilight is a 1998 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Robert Benton, written by Benton and Richard Russo, and starring Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, Stockard Channing and James Garner. The film's original score was composed by Elmer Bernstein.

<i>Bitter Moon</i> 1992 film by Roman Polanski

Bitter Moon is a 1992 erotic romantic thriller film co-written and directed by Roman Polanski. It stars Peter Coyote, Emmanuelle Seigner, Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott Thomas. The film's French title, Lunes de fiel, is a pun on the French phrase "lune de miel", meaning "honeymoon". It is based on the novel Lunes de fiel by French author Pascal Bruckner, published in English as Evil Angels. The score was composed by Vangelis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Peet</span> American actress (born 1972)

Amanda Peet is an American actress. She began her career with small parts on television before making her feature film debut in Animal Room (1995). Her portrayal of Jill St. Claire in The Whole Nine Yards (2000) brought her wider recognition, and she has since appeared in a variety of films, such as Saving Silverman (2001), High Crimes, Changing Lanes, Igby Goes Down, Something's Gotta Give, Identity, Melinda and Melinda (2004), A Lot like Love, Syriana, The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008), 2012 (2009), Gulliver's Travels (2010), Identity Thief, and The Way, Way Back.

<i>Playing by Heart</i> 1998 film by Willard Carroll

Playing by Heart is a 1998 American comedy-drama film which tells the story of several seemingly unconnected characters. It was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival. It stars Gillian Anderson, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Connery, Anthony Edwards, Angelina Jolie, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Jon Stewart and Madeleine Stowe. Playing by Heart is an ensemble work that explores the path of love in its characters’ lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Culkin</span> American actor (born 1989)

Rory Hugh Culkin is an American actor known for his roles in Scream 4, Lords of Chaos, You Can Count on Me, Columbus, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. He is the youngest brother of actors Macaulay and Kieran Culkin.

<i>Shall We Dance?</i> (2004 film) 2004 American film by Peter Chelsom

Shall We Dance? is a 2004 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom and starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon. It is a remake of the 1996 Japanese film of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kieran Culkin</span> American actor (born 1982)

Kieran Kyle Culkin is an American actor. He garnered mainstream recognition for his portrayal of Roman Roy in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>After Dark, My Sweet</i> 1990 American film noir by James Foley

After Dark, My Sweet is a 1990 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by James Foley, and starring Jason Patric, Rachel Ward and Bruce Dern. It is based on the 1955 Jim Thompson novel of the same name.

<i>A Lot like Love</i> 2005 American film

A Lot like Love is a 2005 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nigel Cole and starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet.

<i>Cop and a Half</i> 1993 film by Henry Winkler

Cop and a Half is a 1993 American family buddy cop-comedy film directed by Henry Winkler, and stars Burt Reynolds, Norman D. Golden II and Ray Sharkey. Reynolds plays a veteran cop who reluctantly takes an eight-year-old boy (Golden) as his partner to solve a murder investigation.

<i>Tempest</i> (1982 film) 1982 film by Paul Mazursky

Tempest is a 1982 American adventure comedy-drama romance film directed by Paul Mazursky. It is a loose modern-day adaptation of the Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The picture features John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Raúl Juliá, and Molly Ringwald in her feature film debut.

<i>Safe Passage</i> (film) 1994 American film

Safe Passage is a 1994 American drama film starring Susan Sarandon, and featuring Sam Shepard, Robert Sean Leonard, Marcia Gay Harden, Nick Stahl, Sean Astin, and Jason London. Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman and written by Deena Goldstone, it is based on the 1988 novel Safe Passage by Ellyn Bache.

<i>Mistress</i> (1992 film) 1992 film by Barry Primus

Mistress is a 1992 American comedy-drama film directed by Barry Primus in his directorial debut, written by Primus and J. F. Lawton, and starring Robert De Niro, Danny Aiello, Eli Wallach, Robert Wuhl and Martin Landau.

<i>Jeff, Who Lives at Home</i> 2011 film by Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a 2011 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms, and co-starring Judy Greer and Susan Sarandon. The film premiered on September 14, 2011, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and then saw a limited release in the United States and Canada on March 16, 2012, after having been pushed back from the original date of March 2. The film received praise for its humor, but grossed only $4.7 million worldwide against a $7.5 million budget.

References

  1. 1 2 "Igby Goes Down". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 2003". Hollywood Foreign Press Association . January 19, 2003.
  3. ↑ Latchem, John (September 10, 2021). "Looking Back at the Impact of 9/11 on Movies and TV". Media Play News. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Igby Goes Down". AllMusic . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Igby Goes Down". RottenTomatoes . August 17, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Igby Goes Down". Metacritic . Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Igby Goes Down". The Sydney Morning Herald . June 7, 2003. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Holden, Stephen (September 13, 2002). "Movie Review: Igby Goes Down, On the Outs With Almost Everything". The New York Times .
  9. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (September 20, 2002). "Igby Goes Down movie review". Roger Ebert . Retrieved August 16, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.