Igby Goes Down

Color, R (mature themes, drug use, sexual situations, nudity), 104 min., VHS $33, DVD $26.98

DVD: director's commentary, featurette, deleted scenes

Street: Feb. 4, Prebook: Jan. 7

First Run: L, Sept. 2002, $4.3 mil.

Cast: Kieran Culkin (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys), Susan Sarandon (Light Sleeper),

Amanda Peet (Whipped),

Ryan Phillippe (54)

Director: Burr Steers

MGM

Story Line: Upon moving to Manhattan via the use of his rich mother's (Sarandon) credit card, rebellious Igby Slocomb (Culkin) encounters a host of bizarre characters--including a sleazy surrogate father realtor (Goldblum), his strung-out mistress (Peet), a drug-dealing conceptual artist (Jared Leto) and a Bennington student (Claire Danes)--all of whom contribute to his downfall.

Bottom Line: Featuring an outstanding cast led by talented up-and-comer Culkin, Igby Goes Down is a sharp-edged, darkly comic story about a dysfunctional family a la The Royal Tannenbaums and The Daytrippers. Although it's not for all tastes, there's no denying that Culkin is blossoming into a major talent. His Igby is a complex, fully developed character that would make Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield proud. Play up the ensemble cast--which also includes Bill Pullman in a fine, substance-abusing role--but inform those on the fence that they might not find some of the film's darker elements (drug abuse and murder, amongst them) all that funny. --Cyril Pearl

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