The best part of the emerging interest in American independent films is that somehow these movies, with their intimate reflections of everyday people in their everyday routine struggling with their everyday problems, speak like no other film genre has to this generation. Amongst the “Rushmores,” the “Swingers,” and the “Clerks,” is the touching story from first-time director Burr Steers, “Igby Goes Down.”
After flunking out of yet another prep school, Igby (Kieran Culkin, “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys”) is sent to a Midwest military school. From there, he goes on the lam and lands in New York, where he secretly hides out at his ironic godfather’s, D.H Baines (Jeff Goldblum, “Jurassic Park), weekend retreat.
There Igby befriends a deviant cast of characters, including his godfather’s secret lover Rachel (Amanda Peet, “Changing Lanes”), the incurably jaded Sookie Sapperstein (Claire Danes, “The Mod Squad”) and the rogue artist/smack dealer Russel (Jared Harris, “Mr. Deeds”).
Igby is graced with Sookie’s affection and love, but his neo-fascist Republican brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe, “Gosford Park”) interrupts, and Sookie is soon just a friend. D.H Baines stops his financial support of Igby when Mimi Slocumb (Susan Sarandon, “The Banger Sisters”), his mother, is diagnosed with a relapse of cancer.
As Ibgy’s world comes crashing down, the questions about family, friends, lovers, and enemies come full circle as he keeps himself from “going down” one final time.
One of the main reasons I decided to like “Igby Goes Down” is because I can still see young Igby (Rory Culkin, “Signs”) look up at his father (Bill Pullman, “Lake Placid”) in scary awe as he succumbs to a complete mental breakdown. I still wonder about the motivations of characters that seem so realistic and allow me to easily identify with each one of them.
The movie demands that the viewer think about its meaning for a second; the story is too engrossing and clever to just let go of upon exiting the theater.
Although the second half of the film is hardly as entertaining as the first–and resembles a music video (which makes me wonder if an MTV executive got his hands on the script or if some people made some wrong decisions in post production)–it remains a testament to the pressures society exudes onto each inhabitant and how they cope with them.
The acting in this movie is unbelievable. Susan Sarandon is incredible and should get nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Seeing Jeff Goldblum strut around the screen praisefully staring at his own reflection in every mirror is reason enough to see the movie.
Peet and Danes complement each other perfectly in their best performances to date. And Culkin repeats his stellar presentation seen in the indie gem “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys.” With screen veterans such as Jared Harris and Bill Pullman supporting the cast, the movie fizzles with the onscreen chemistry that makes for some of the best flowing and witty conversation sequences in recent movies that haven’t been spoiled by Vin Diesel saying every line with enough of a pause to allow the audience to applaud his daring escape.
“Igby Goes Down” is set to open in the Twin Cities first and then in Madison. Steer’s directorial debut shows promise, and I am excited to see if this picture will gather the mainstream audience it deserves and not be just another missed indie cult classic.
Grade: A/B
