Taglines: Insanity is relative.
Seventeen year old Jason Slocumb, Jr. – Igby to most that know him – comes from east coast old money, the second son of self-absorbed and controlling Mimi Slocumb and medically-diagnosed schizophrenic Jason Slocum, Sr., the latter who has for several years been institutionalized in a Maryland psychiatric facility.
While Igby’s economics-studying Columbia-attending older brother Ollie Slocum has embraced and aspires to continue their wealthy life, Igby has rebelled against it, considering his brother a fascist (although he could soften that label to Republican). Because of Jason’s situation, Mimi has largely left the role of male role model for Ollie and Igby to their godfather, D.H. Banes. Igby’s rebellion has led to him being kicked out of one prep school after another, the latest, a military academy, from which Igby escapes before he can graduate.
As such, Mimi and D.H. arrange for Igby to live in New York with Ollie for the summer while working for D.H. renovating some of his properties, before Mimi arranges for yet another strict school for the fall so that Igby can at least graduate. Igby is largely able to hide out for most of the summer with the help of Rachel, D.H.’s younger heroin addict mistress, and Sookie, a slightly older waitress with who he falls in love. An issue with Sookie and the aftermath of a joint mission with Ollie leads to Igby having a clearer picture of what his immediate future will look like.
Igby Goes Down is a 2002 U.S. comedy-drama film that follows the life of Igby Slocumb, a rebellious and sardonic New York City teenager who attempts to break free of his familial ties and wealthy, overbearing mother. The film was written and directed by Burr Steers, and stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Susan Sarandon, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman, and Jared Harris. It was given a limited theatrical release through United Artists on September 13, 2002 in the United States.
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Directed by: Burr Steers
Starring: Kieran Culkin, Susan Sarandon, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon, Rory Culkin, Kathleen Gati
Screenplay by: Burr Steers
Production Design by: Kevin Thompson
Cinematography by: Wedigo von Schultzendorff
Film Editing by: William M. Anderson, Robert Frazen, Padraic McKinley
Costume Design by: Sarah Edwards
Set Decoration by: Jennifer Alex Nickason
Art Direction by: Roswell Hamrick
Music by: Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
MPAA Rating: R for language, sexuality and drug conten.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: September 13, 2002
Visits: 52
