Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageIgby Goes Down (2002)
Director: Burr Steers
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
This uneven black comedy, in which a poor little rich boy struggles towards manhood, makes more sense once you know writer/director Steers played the snippy nightclub doorkeeper in Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco. Despite tantalising rumours, there's been nothing new from US cinema's finest living screenwriter in the last five years. Still, this may tide admirers over until the real thing comes along. It's pure Stillman territory, i.e. the fanciest corners of Manhattan. Traversing the not so mean streets is 17-year-old Jason 'Igby' Slocumb Jr (Culkin). Very much the black sheep of his over-achieving, neurotic family, Igby runs away from military academy in search of offbeat adventures and romance. Yes, it's The Catcher in the Rye all over again - with generous helpings of Rushmore, The Graduate, Bret Easton Ellis and The Ice Storm. Igby never reaches those heights, mainly because Steers lacks the ear for sharp dialogue needed to carry off his characters' tricky banter. His directorial contributions, meanwhile, veer erratically from the fresh and bold to the tired and unexceptional, though he does elicit some terrific performances.Author: NY
Cast & crew
Director: Burr Steers
Producer: Lisa Tornell, Marco Weber
Cast: Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon, Rory Culkin, Eric Bogosian, Gore Vidal full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 98 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now