Note: For any of you wondering why this review is so short and undetailed, it happens to be one of my very first reviews that I had never posted, and recently came across. Don't think I've lost my touch or anything. ;)

Igby Goes Down is a depressingly bittersweet look into one teenage boy's troubled [or so he feels] life. The film works great thanks to a clever humor and a well written script, played out by a fantastic cast. The performances in this film are believable, likeable, and admirable, with Claire Danes, Kieren Culkin, and Jeff Goldblum's characters standing above the rest. Caulkin and Danes have great chemistry, and even [or especially] when seen on the screen apart from each other, they portray their individual characters brilliantly. Caulkin as the spoiled yet neglected son who wants the world to feel sorry for him, and Danes as the hard-bodied single girl with a tough exterior hiding the feeble person inside, who is just longing for acceptance [but not at the expense of letting it look that way].
Goldblum is stellar as DH, a businessman who is every bit as interesting as he is unpredictable. The brilliance of the DH character is seen in scenes such as where he holds a party where he entertains both his mistress and his wife, where he seemingly rewards Igby for running away from home, and possibly the most well handled scene in the movie, where he beats the crap out of Igby. To this, the older brother responds "I didn't think DH was capable of getting angry." and Igby says, "He wasn't angry. He just felt obligated."

The film does not rely on plot or action, but on the subtlety of its cast and script. This is one of those films you can sit through and enjoy every scene's beauty while not wishing it was anything more than it is. The comedy in the film is very dark, and genius. Scenes such as where Caulkin and Danes discuss the art and etiquette of rolling a joint, or where Caulkin is calling friends and relatives to inform them of his mother's death cleverly tread the waters of the film's dark themes.
Everything we see and hear is believeable coming from characters who seem to have such hatred for each other and everything, characters who are void of any real-life likeability, but work perfectly in the setting of the movie. Where they all are introduced as bitter, cynical tyrants wallowing in their hatred for their own existence, by the end of the film we can begin to see cracks in their collective nihilistic shell, and this makes for some honest and beliveable emotion, and a proverbial happy ending to an otherwise morbid tale of human existence and relationships.

My only complaint with this film is how a lot of the transitions felt like they were lifted from a television show, making stops for comercial breaks, and crippled the pacing of an otherwise fantastic film. I've seen the DVD on sale for $8.99, which is a great deal for a great movie that most people will never see.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older