[FilmReview]IgbyGoesDown(2002)5.6/10

Arudderlessteenagerfromadysfunctionalfamily,attendstheschoolsofhardknockswithanihilisticresignation,onewonders,18yearsafteritsbirth,howwouldnewaudienceperceiveBurrSteersdebutfeatureIGBYGOESDOWN,asmugwhitekidfloatinginNYC,takesallhisentitlementforgranted,yettryingtoelicittheelusive“coolness”throughvariousencounterswithdifferentcharacters,willanyonefallforthatnow?Clearly,18yearsago,manypeopledo,certifiedbythefactthatthiswryindiecomedysnaggedtwoGoldenGlobenominations,forKieranCulkin,whoplaysthetitularIgbySlocumb,andSarandon,whoplayshismotherMimi,andthefilmstartlesusbywickedlydevisingascenariolookslikeIgbyandhisbrotherOliver(Phillippe),aremurderingtheirmother,stertorouslylyingonherbeddownforthecount.Jump-startedbythisfalsematricidalmorbidity(whichwouldturnouttobethecaseofassistedsuicide),IGBYGOESDOWNretracesthingsthatwouldleadtothatpoint,andblandlyemulatesthezeitgeistfromTHECATCHERINTHERYE,whichisfeeblytappedandinterleavedwithhippopsongsoftheera(BritpophitslikeColdplay’sDON’TPANICandTravis’THEWEIGHT).“I’mdrowninginassholes”isIgby’sownwanstatement,andtherebarbativebunchheencountersiseitherovertlysexualized(ifsheisayounghotfemale,likePeet’s“factorygirl”mistressRachelorDanes’nymphomaniacSookie),undulyvilifiedormadegrotesque(likealmosteveryoneelsebesidesourpoorIgby).Mygripeis,theirinterpersonalconnectionsneverfeelmoreconvincingthanroteacting,andnosparkseverstemfromthosewacky,grotesquelywhimsicaloccurrences,noonetakesIgbyseriously,thewholemisery-loves-companycombohasnosincerity,nosubstance,notevenflexes,toempathize.AndIgby,althoughCulkin’sowncoolthisabigplus,onlypassivelyplaysalong,submergedinself-lamentingnarcissism,hispsychoanalyzingprocessismootanduneventful.Thatsaid,thereisoneplayerwhoisoursavinggrace,Sarandon,sportingthemostacerbicbarbs,takestheroleofanunsympatheticharpy(astereotypeforagingactress,sadly)inherstrideandfloutsanysimpledefinitioninourface,Mimiisamonstrousmother,notamonster,takingherfateinherownhands,howmanyofuscanclaimthat?IgbygoesdownandMimi,definitelygoesup.referentialentries:Steersx27;17AGAIN(2009,4.9/10);DylanKidd’sROGERDODGER(2002,7.3/10);NicoleHolofcener’sPLEASEGIVE(2010,7.0/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。