Igby
Goes Down is one offbeat movie Ultimately, it succeeds thanks to a riveting and
most unexpected performance from Kieran Culkin.
Seventeen
year old, Igby lives to infuriate nearly everyone in his family. Particularly
his nagging mother (wonderfully played by Susan Sarandon). Of course mom isn't
exactly Ms. Popularity herself. In fact, Igby's older brother (played by Ryan
Phillipe) is sick of the nagging as well. With help from Igby, the two conspire
to fix the situation. Of course, the film really isn't about that. This movie
is more about what makes Igby tick, as the young man engages in one strange scenario
after the next, trying to figure out who the hell he is along the way.
Igby
Goes Down is part drama, part biting satire, and part mean spirited comedy. While
there really isn't anyone to sympathize with in this picture, it remains intriguing
the same way The Royal Tenenbaums was. I wouldn't say this is in the same league
as the underrated Wes Anderson winner, but it reaches for the same sort of tone.
The
eccentric performances really make Igby Goes Down worth watching. Susan Sarandon
excels as a heartless bitch. As bitter as she seems, you can always see the desperation
just beneath the surface. Bill Pullman turns in an all to brief but heartfelt
performance as Igby's father. Jeff Goldblum also shines as the new man in Sarandon's
life, a sort of eccentric wacko with a junkie girlfriend (Amanda Peet) on the
side. Claire Danes shows up as a strange, hippie chick who ultimately captures
Igby's eye and heart. It is Culkin, however, that carries the movie as the confused
and cynical Igby. Even while this character is a wise ass and seemingly withdrawn
from those around him, Culkin brings sympathy and vulnerability to this role.
Upon watching this performance, I could only wonder if Culkin drew from real life
drama to bring this interesting character to life.
Igby
Goes Down is dark, mean, and even a tad misoginistic, but it won me over with
it's strong performances and it's fascinating, if not bizarre, examination of
a dysfunctional teenager searching for his identity. I think this Culkin is in
it for the long haul.
