See it, you'll love it.

Igby Goes Down is one of the most intelligent dark comedies I have seen in awhile, and Igby is very reminescent of other great characters such as Holden Caulfield and Donnie Darko. All in all, this movie has it all, great acting, great script and some of the most colorful characters around.

Culkin seems a young robert downey. other than that, this movie is icky. igby (& everyone else in this self-indulgent smarm) is icky.

I had a very mixed reaction to this movie. The acting is pretty amazing, especially Susan Sarandon's performance. Jeff Goldbum is in rare form as well. Oh, and Bill Pullman, in a brief but powerful role, is terrific. The story as a whole, however, didn't do it for me. From the jump, it seemed as if the filmmakers were trying to be as extreme and "edgy" as possible while forsaking the story and adequate characterization. I got a little tired of the protagonist's whiny predicament. It's tough to sympathize with snobby rich kids who despise their mothers, sleep with their godparent's mistresses, and get kicked out of every posh secondary school on the east coast. Definitely irritating more than anything else. Many individual situtations were terrific, but nothing bound the story together for me. Worth seeing, though, I suppose.… Expand

Strangely watchable, this movie is proof that intellectual banter eventually becomes stilted, and so obviously scripted, this movie is very so-so, and Claire Danes really did join the "big-head" club, gain some weight girl!!!

An amazing movie.

It's hilarious and intelligent!

It has a somewhat unprogressive plot until the very end but other than that it is sad and yet funny.

If i could, i would rate this movie higher!!! it is the best movie i have ever seen. in my opinionthis film is perfect in every aspect of a movie, the casting was perfect, the cinamatography was exelent, the movie was just great. if you havent seen it, then watch it.

Amazingly casted, tremendously acted, superbly directed. From the very first scene of this film, you want to get wring every little drop out of it. Every conversation is bursting with pop culture references; if you're bored it's because you're not listening. Kieran Culkin is a gem, the Marlon Brando of our times.

Having observed this social class from the vantage point of a middle-class kid who got to go to private school, I find Igby accurate and funny. Ryan Phillipe is particularly hilarious as Igby's brother, and it's a funny script all the way through. A dire update of Salinger, with many funny moments. Recommended to preppies, New York division.

Blind leading the blind. huge waste of money and time.

One of the best movies I have ever seen!

Kind of a shallow hipster movie. Too dependent on background pop music, much like the Royal Tenenbaums. I didn't believe the relationships between any of the characters, and the dialogue rang hollow. I'd be interested in reading this guy's plays to see if they sound the same. Not sure why everyone is doing that stupid cross-marketing "if you liked Catcher in the Rye, you�39;ll like..." thing.… Expand

Challenging and wonderfully acted.

Turan and LaSalle are completely off the mark. I wonder what they would say of Warton's Lily Bart? Their inability to identify with Igby is not the fault of Steers but the obvious reaction of crotchety, OLD, and out of touch men. I'd have given it a 9, but the soundtrack is horrid. First KCRW knocks Gilles Peterson off the air and then they deliver one of the most cliched soundtracks in recent memory (the music supervisor is the KCRW music director). The film is tons of fun, and if you're looking for Whit Stillman/Antoine Doinel type fare check out Igby.… Expand

Do not be fooled, this "film" is pure garbage. The script was flat, the actors were disappointing, and the editing was abismal. If you want to see a "coming of age" movie, see Almost Famous. If you want to see Susan Sarandon in a movie about death, see Moonlight Mile. This movie is not worth the two minutes it takes out of your life to watch the trailer. You have been warned.

[***Potential first scene Spoiler***] Igby is an insufferable character, so insufferable in fact, that by the end of the movie, I was wishing he'd taken the poison instead of his mother. The ultra-hip think there is some great revelation in this movie (see review by Slate), but there isn't; it's just good looking crap.

Thought the acting was universally excellent and the film looked okay, though not innovative. Some good laughs at the beginning, and the Igby character initially was moving. But . . . an awful lot of sensibility repitiition which made things ultimately a bit boring. A decent premise. Too bad the writing didn't live up to it.

This is a dark and quirky look at dysfunctional family (and other) relationships which somehow manages to be funny and charming even though so many moments in it are painfully sad. Kieran Culkin eerily reminded me of a young Robert Downey, Jr. in this film.

This movie was one tired, long, overwrought cliche. Igby brought nothing new to the "coming of age" or "black comedy" genres. Sarandon's performance was good, but not worth the price of admission. And what was with that irritating "pop-punk" music used during every montage sequence. Who listens to that? It was really distracting.

Mix Igby with American Beauty and a little bit of LOTR and maybe Basquiat, and you got me.

"Igby Goes Down" is a wonderful movie, drenched in satire and dark, disturbing comedy. As a former movie reveiwer, I have never seen a screenplay as myriad as this one, and I must say, I thought it was quite original and creative, even with the cliche "poor little rich kid" theme.

I saw this movie by accident my flatmate who usually makes horrible chick-flick choices picked it and after watching the trailer on the DVD i was ready to go to bed. However i did'nt and what i got from my loss of 1 and a half hours of sleep was one of the most interesting and cruely funny films ever. Kieran Culkin (originally what put me off the film) was nothing short of excellent i just hope that Hollywood does let him fall by the wayside. The comparisons to Royal Tenenbaums is warranted but this is a far greater film (i actually laughed) and as for Almost Famous i usually like Crowe but that film was cheese. Anyway i'm off the point if you want to be truly surprised but not nessasarily uplifted then this is for you. HOLLYWOOD LISTEN CULKIN IS A SKILLED YOUNG ACTOR HIRE HIM!!!… Expand

One of those movies that gets you kicked out of the pretentious critics club if you don't say you like it. A big hit among those who like to use the word "obdurately." Not nearly as good (on any level) as you have been seduced into believing.

THE best movie ever-barring South Park:Bigger, Longer, and Uncut-it shines in every moment. Although it is a very dark movie, and quite disturbing, it stiil makes you laugh. Kieran is a much better actor than his brother, and does an excellent job. I'm a big movie guy, and undoutedly the best movie of the year, see it, you have to.

Kiernan Culkin handles the "my character actually has some redeeming qualities" quite adeptly, which is a good thing, because the transition from icy to warm comedy can be an awkward one. What "Igby Goes Down" has going for it is Claire Danes' best screen performance to date, and Culkin's ability to be detatched, yet eminently likable. They have so much chemistry, you wonder why Sookie(Danes) falls for Igby's older brother(Phillipe). "Igby Goes Down" gets out of the gate slowly, and it ends with a "Party of Five" sort of vibe, but there's at least 70 minutes of great writing and luminous acting. … Expand

I truly love this movie. The characters although behind my time, really do a great job. Kieran Culkin performance as igby is excellent, he has the style, and charisma to be igby. I enjoyed watching this movie at home, a million times, because I am always picking up, something that I didn't already know. My favorite dialog between two characters is the one between D.H. and Oliver. "i believe that certain people in life are meant to fall by the wayside to serve as warning signs for the rest of us and signpost around the way" says D.H. Oliver responds "for what?" "SUCCESS" This movie is very successful in making me laugh, cry, and question so many other things, like: Do meat eaters real have sloppy joints, and Am I living reverse darwinism, or big-picture darwinism? Anyone who is anyone should go see this movie, because this is really how movies should be! … Expand

Typical of untalented productions and studio packaged product. How do they get money to make this kindof stuff? Psyco kids in a Psyco world. How needs to see it on the screen?

The best dramedy of all time beating America Beauty by inches. The story is dramatic, the acting moving, and the dialogue hilarious. Superb film.

Blah blah not for everyone blah, but at least you can tell if it is for you from the outset. If it IS, then it's well worth your time.

Gee guys, I went to see the film due to the 73 rating. Usually I agree with the rating, but I must have missed something. Good acting, yes but give me a good story line something more than all about a looser. You see these guys everywhere, maybe I just want some escaping from the real world once in a while.

I can understand the mixed reactions from both the professional and amateur critics. But I really, really liked this movie. It was just enough real to avoid completely falling into parody. Yes, it has the 'disenchanted rich youth' aura to it, but it was a snapshot into a life some may or may not be familiar, and it didn't need to have a real 'story'. And even if the other characters seemed a bit one-dimensional compared to Igby, I still think it worked. I believe this is one of those films that you should see, even if you end up not liking it personally.… Expand

Captivating, edgy and beautifully acted. Loved the dialog, and the soundtrack rocked. This was far removed from the formulaic movies the major studios churn out. I was thinking and paying attention all the way through.

This movie is the best product man could have created. the acting was amazing, and the plot impecable. cheers to kieran!

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie in terms of the witty dialogue and the well thought out "quirky" character development. Overall, a movie that brings about all the emotions that one may want to experience in a story.

To be honest, boring.

Watching movies like this makes me have faith in todays entertainment bussness. igby is the typical disgruntled teen thats just confused like every other kid this age. this movies portrays this perfectly.

This movie is fantastic. it is one of the best movies of 2002. i think that the way it blends so many different genres together is brilliant. see this movie dammit.

A rebellious teen and gritty-mouthed smart-ass, Kieran brings his character Igby Slocumb to life with not only attitude and sagacious humor, but also with a suprisingly touching emotion and vulnerablility that really brings the film true authenticity. Sure, there is much realness and coy in the film's dialogue, plot and co-stars, but it is Kieran who really carries this film through Igby and makes it believable to audiences. His (refreshing) persona and determined vitality not only intrigue and capture an audience, but [as the plot unravels, his journey] also illuminates as he fights in search of some hope admist a world full of mishaps, obstacles and calamity. Igby must struggle against the confinement, torture and adversity of a deranged family, a haunting past and a reality that is even more cutthroat than his sarcasm. He seeks freedom and acceptance as he ventures into a world of drugs, sex and further deception, coming away with frustration and more emotional battle scars, but also a new gaining of knowledge... Igby eventually learns that the only person he can really trust and count on is himself. Perhaps it is this, along with the other numerous sufferings he endures, that give him the strength to finally leave it all behind and not become victim to it. Whether trying to escape his mother, psycho step-dad or the gloom of his supposed fate, Kieran's character Igby is often knocked down, but never completely out. Kieran delivers a powerful perfomance in Igby that has earned him into the ranks of Oscar consideration and undoubted recognition among critics. His performance in Igby shines, even amongst the big names of his co-stars. His natural genuity in film is impressionable and rare, as he does not just "take on" each role that he plays, but becomes it. It is this substantial talent and trait that, along with his drive and commitment to quality filmmaking, suggests he can be in movies for a long time to come...… Expand

One of those movies that just makes you feel good when you watch it. Once over your "feel good feeling" you begin to realize what an amazing movie, in fact, you've just seen. Kieran Culkin is, frankly, charming.