You Can Count on Me (2000)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Kenneth Lonergan

Writer (WGA):

Kenneth Lonergan (written by)

Release Date:

16 November 2000 (Slovenia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A single mother's life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely-seen younger brother returns to town.

Plot Keywords:

Single Mother | Suicide Attempt | Mother Son Relationship | Brother Sister Relationship | Fishing

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Laura Linney	...	Samantha 'Sammy' Prescott
Mark Ruffalo	...	Terry Prescott
Matthew Broderick	...	Brian Everett
Rory Culkin	...	Rudy Prescott
Jon Tenney	...	Bob Steegerson
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Mabel
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Sheila
Amy Ryan	...	Rachel Louise Prescott
Michael Countryman	...	Thomas Gerard Prescott
Adam LeFevre	...	Sheriff Darryl
Halley Feiffer	...	Amy
Whitney Vance	...	Young Sammy Prescott
Peter Kerwin	...	Young Terry Prescott
Betsy Aidem	...	Minister
Lisa Altomare	...	Waitress

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | South Korea:18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Margaretville, New York, USA

Company:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Trivia:

Mabel the bank secretary was played by J. Smith-Cameron, wife of writer/director Kenneth Lonergan.

Goofs:

Continuity: The pancakes on the son's dish skip around from side to side in each shot as he and his mom are talking.

Quotes:

Rudy: Why are you smoking?
Terry: Um, because it's bad, don't ever do it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Faraway You

A Beautiful Film

Originally written as a one-act (which manifests itself as the eventual meeting of Terry and Sammy in the restaurant) by stage veteran Kenneth Lonergan, 'You Can Count on Me' is an amazingly realistic look at the filial dynamic and relationships that come from the breaking and separation of family.

Split from their parents at an early age, Sammy and Terry, the older and younger, respectively, are forced to rely on one another throughout their youths until Terry vanishes, travelling across the nation for a long time.

When he finally returns, Terry finds that Sammy has built a somewhat stable life for herself in their beautifully provincial Appalachian hometown with her single-mom life and her adorable son, Rudy.

'You Can Count on Me' boasts honest, believable dialogue and acting in like kind. Laura Linney's performance as the somewhat-restrained Sammy is easily her best, and Mark Ruffalo's as Terry is also highly evolved. The beauty of this film is that there are literally hundreds of places for the plot or action to derail and become an emotional sap-fest ripe with over-dramatic exclamations, but it stays right on track, always honest, brutal, and, ultimately, endearing.

Lonergan has hit a kind of gold mine here. Fans of his hugely successful 'This Is Our Youth' will recognize his work here, as 'You Can Count on Me' is obviously kith and kin to it.

Do not expect breath-taking special effects. Do not expect dramatic exlcamations or exposition. Do not expect the typical or mundane. This film is extraordinarily truthful in its telling of the boundaries we build for ourselves and the ones we love.