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You Can Count On Me on DVD (2000)

You Can Count On Me cover art
Average rating: 68%
1213517132047
3.0
from 636 members
 
Starring: Amy Ryan, Laura Linney, Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick, Jon Tenney
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Studio: MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time: 111 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: Small town lives, small time films
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 02/04/2002

Brief synopsis of You Can Count On Me

Set in a small town in upstate New York, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME looks at a brother and sister who grew up together as orphans but now face life with very different perspectives. Sammy (Laura Linney) works at the local bank. Most of her attention goes into raising her 8-year-old son, Rudy (Rory Culkin), and drifting in a tepid romance with Bob (Jon Tenney). The first disruption to her dutiful routine arrives in the form of new bank manager Brian (Matthew Broderick), intent on whipping his employees into shape. Then Sammy's wayward brother, Terry (Mark Ruffalo) shows up after a long absence, and her happiness quickly turns sour when she realizes he has only come to ask for money--again. But with all the elements for a backwater soap opera in place, the story instead becomes a subtle portrait of good intentions and fractured relationships.
First-time director Ken Lonergan was already a noted Hollywood screenwriter (ANALYZE THIS), but he saved his screenplay for himself. Avoiding both big-budget maudlin and low-budget posturing, he steers COUNT ON ME straight to the gut with an artful balance of pain and comedy. A good number of excellent performances, especially by Ruffalo as the screw-up Terry, turn the film into a remarkably honest and moving experience.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Laura Linney well deserves her Oscar nomination for a fine performance in this humour-tinged drama. Linney plays a strong-minded single mum who still lives in the small town where she and her brother (Mark Ruffalo) were orphaned as children. The return of her sibling — a drifter with a chequered past — initially suggests that Linney's character is the smart and stable one, and Ruffalo is the black sheep. But perceptions shift as she embarks on an ill-judged fling with her bank manager boss (Matthew Broderick), and Ruffalo tries to rebuild the relationship between her son (Rory Culkin, Macaulay's younger brother) and his estranged dad. Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (Analyze This, Gangs of New York) delivers a sharp script, with acute observations of the siblings' close but sometimes strained relationship. The film takes a while to get going, but it's worth sticking with, and Linney is well supported by the quirky and charismatic Ruffalo.

Los Angeles Times

"...Kenneth Lonergan knows what he's written and why he's written it....Even his tiniest moments ring true, which is why the ruefully funny dramatic comedy YOU CAN COUNT ON ME is such an exceptional debut..."

USA Today

"...This may be the best drama about what goes on behind closed doors in Anytown, USA, since AMERICAN BEAUTY....Linney is extraordinary..." -- 3 out of 4 stars

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsan absolute gem

benjamin jackson from somewhere quiet , 20/05/2004

this film was made to the highest specifications - the performances from Linney and Ruffalo (and even the little Culkin) are perfectly pitched; no doubt helped by a natural, but not unengaging script

the tone is beautiful and the story is deliciously worked

this is a rare thing - an affecting and interesting story that remains entirely outside the realm of trite sentimentality.

a highly recommended watch

  15 out of 18 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsSimply Great

BicycleThief from Scotland , 22/09/2004

Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan has crafted something really special here with all the help of a great cast. It's not about what he does but what he doesn't do. He doesn't allow his characters to do or say anything that you don't believe. You never break out of the illusion or feel you are being emotionally manipulated in a crass way - very unusual for a relationship drama. Although romantic relationships are in the mix, they don't dominate and it's all the more satisfying for it. A real steady builder, it starts off at a leisurely pace and just gets better and better. Ruffalo and Linney are brilliant and even the wee Culkan kid is pretty good.

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsAn evening well spent

A customer from Harrow, London , 07/09/2004

Well worthing a viewing. A brother and sister connected but disconnnected by an earlier tragedy meet up up after several years apart.The sister has a son who they both use to prove that they have an understanding of the real world.

On one level a very simplistic film about the meaning of family but on a deeper level it is about learning to live with yourself.

A strong performance is given by all the main protagonists in that you actually believe in them.

Deeply satisfying.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starslovely!

A customer from binfield,berks , 09/04/2005

I dont what it was about the film but the characters were lovely and you could relate to, the film had an air of honesty about it which was refreshing..i enjoyed watching it lots of funny moments would watch again.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 1 starsGreat acting, terrible film

noahandgabrielsmum from Sandbach , 11/01/2008

Excellent performances from Laura Linney, Mathew Broderick and others do not save this film from being dull - a non-story and leaving you ultimately not caring about the lives of any of the characters

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsA Touching tale!!

A customer from England , 16/11/2006

This film kind of started off a bit slow but I did enjoy it. Mark Ruffalo's character of the ex con/ brother was complex yet very believeable. Laura Linney is wonderful also.The acting is what makes this movie. If you don't enjoy movies which are emotional and deal with serious issues don't watch it but if you do I recommend it.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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