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Igby Goes DownMovie Review by Greg ZiglarIgby not only goes down in this teen-angst film that is very much removed from the traditional Hollywood teen movie, but he goes in many different directions. He is trying to find his place in the world, just like the rest of us. And this true to life search is what makes this movie so good.
As Igby is trying to sever ties with his wealthy upbringing, Amanda Peet as Rachel plans to sleep her way into that same wealth. (The song “Goldigger” is used appropriately here, and is from a very original 2000 disc by Supreme Beings of Leisure) Rachel finds that wealth in a sense, but goes down in several different ways, and in her final scene of destruction, Igby changes direction again.
Igby’s final change of direction may or may not resolve his issues. After all, in the final shot, he is most likely carrying a lot of baggage. The bottom line here is that Burr Steers (also the director) has written a great script that is funny and wise and painful. A great script and Susan Sarandan adds up to a can’t miss film. |
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Played beautifully by Kieran Culkin, Igby is a bit
reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman’s graduate character. There is a scene,
reminiscent of The Graduate, near the beginning of the film in which
Igby nervously attends a party. Igby, at 17, is not quite so naive as
Hoffman’s older character. But that’s to be expected, given a span of
several decades since that landmark film. Igby’s emotional torment at
losing a girlfriend toward the end of the film is perhaps a bit overdone;
but that first lost love can be devastating.
A very early, bizarre exit by Susan Sarandon provokes
nervous laughter. She dies with her head in a plastic bag, with a look of
surprise on her face. Lucky for us, she reappears shortly thereafter and
pretty much steals the movie from everyone else. 
Somewhere in the middle of Igby and Rachel, there is
Ryan Phillippe. He plays Oliver, Igby’s older brother. Oliver is a
one-note heart-of-stone character, and Ryan is absolutely perfect in this
part. Oliver will succeed in life beautifully because there appears to be
no chinks in the armor.
