You Can Count on Me (2000)

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:

This was Rory Culkin's first major movie role. Lonergan was impressed on the whole with his acting ability, but had such a difficult time getting him to laugh or even smile on camera that he had Mark Ruffalo tickle him a few times.

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: Who are you talking about?
Terry: Some wild kids we used to know.
Rudy: Were you a wild kid?
Terry: Not as wild as your mom.
Rudy: Yeah, right...
Terry: Oh, you don't believe me?
Rudy: No.
Terry: Ask her.
Rudy: Mom, were you?
Sammy: [long pause] No comment.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Texas Eagle

A breath of fresh air

It's like a breath of fresh air to see a drama driven by characters rather than by a typical Hollywood plot. If this were any other drama, someone would get cancer, the little boy would go missing, the stars would look like supermodels, and the characters would talk with a screenwriter's emotional phrase. Here, the characters think, act and talk like real people. They could be us. That's the genius of this movie. If you want fantasy, don't see this film. If you want to be touched by great acting and a wonderful plot that shows the complexities of human relationship, see this film. This isn't Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias or One True Thing. This is real.