Last Thursday "Igby goes down" came into the German cinemas, and yesterday I went to see it. It was great! Kieren Culkin is by far the most talented of the Culkin-Brothers, a thousand time better than Macaualy! But I also liked the interesting dialogues and the fascinanting achievement in directing, which Burr Steers is responsible for.
For me Steers is the new Wes Anderson.
What do you think about him?
I completely agree. I use to mildly like Wes Anderson, but his focus is starting to turn to that of a stylist more so than a director and he even isn't switching his storytelling all that much to benefit his new fondness so it is all rather fluff. I saw Igby Goes Down prolly around 4 times so far since it came out and each viewing it is more seen of how focused his writing is in telling the story, that even though this family is strange and unique like a Royal Tennebaumn one, the writing is completely focused and grounded in making the quircks fit for the characters and story. A great and entertaining movie and sure to be on my top ten list for last year when I see all the films. About Kieren Culkin, I think a lot of people overlooked him in giving one of the best performances of last year. You can't even think of anyone else playing that role. It was made for him.
~rougerum
Igby was Okay... didn't strike me as especially amazing... just okay
Didn't like "Igby" at all. Couldn't stand any of the characters; they were and were played too over the top.
I liked Kieran better in "Dangerous Lives Of Alter Boys".
Over the top? Fan of "The Royal Tennebaums"?
~rougerum
I really enjoyed it. It had a more natural, realistic feeling than Royal Tennenbaums (although I still like that film more), and it really was very well written and directed.
On the other hand, I didn't think Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys was too great. Even with all that was going on in it (and the fact that it was based on a novel notwithstanding), it felt like it was stretching a short story to a feature length film. The animated segments were a nice idea, but I don't think they worked.
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetOver the top? Fan of "The Royal Tennebaums"?
~rougerum
Yes to both questions.
Starting with Igby, on to his mother and brother, and his godfather - none of them seemed believable to me. Felt "Tenenbaum's" characters, although somewhat exaggerated, were more human. None of them felt phony to me.
That's a weird thing to say concerning the fact it seems obvious Igby Goes Down is the most realistic and held to realism of the two exagerrated families. How is that so when the main way of identification for the people in RT is through their dress atire? which like a cartoon, never seems to change. RT has a distant look on its characters, like it can't fully meet them because it is admiring the view around them too much. I could buy an argument of more hate for the characters of Igby because it focuses on how destructive and selfish these families are. Anderson has, in the one and only reference ever, a quality of love in his filmmaking like a Trauffaut.
~rougerum
I see where Mac's coming from and I see where GT's coming from too, but it's about the believability of the character's in thier environment. When you make a film like Igby, the characters had better be pretty realistic because that's the feel that film's going for and it didn't succeed very well there. The characters in RT fit in perfectly, you understand the world they live in and accept them because it's well done.
The main difference between these two films is that I could hardly give two shits about anyone in Igby goes down, while Royal T had me much more emotionally involved. (it's the same old argument, GT, I know you don't agree, but sometimes I think you just don't let yourself feel during a lot of films)
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetHow is that so when the main way of identification for the people in RT is through their dress atire? which like a cartoon, never seems to change.
I felt the point of the same clothes is because these characters are living in the shadows of their past.
QuoteI could buy an argument of more hate for the characters of Igby because it focuses on how destructive and selfish these families are.
Sorry to disappoint you and not get into an argument. I don't mind characters that are "destructive and selfish", but I have to care about them first to even want to argue over them.
I liked him as "Flock of Seagulls" in Pulp Fiction.
I thought "Igby" was pretty good. And I believe this was Burr Steers' first film, so cheers to him. I liked the story, kinda reminded me of Catcher in the Rye for some reason, maybe even a liitle Rushmore(mainly the Igby character). But I did like the story and also how the kids father was a schitzophrenic, something I can unfortunately relate to.
Tense and Sober -- you are a schitzophrenic? that's crazy..
True story, I went to Wendys and I had to repeat myself four times before the guy understood my order. When I finally got the food, nothing was right!