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Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick, Jon Tenney ... see more see more... , J. Smith-Cameron , Kenneth Lonergan , Gaby Hoffmann , Amy Ryan , Michael Countryman , Adam LeFevre , Nina Garbiras

Kenneth Lonergan, the co-screenwriter for Analyze This (1999), makes his directorial debut with this sensitive portrait of a pair of grown siblings. Sammy and Terry Prescott (Laura Linney and Mark Ruf... read more read more...falo) were orphaned as children after their parents were killed in a car accident. Since then, the two have taken drastically divergent paths. Sammy is a single mother who leads a quiet, stable life in a small town in upstate New York. A fiercely protective mother, she shields her young son Rudy (Rory Culkin) from all information about his absentee father. She is also involved with Bob (Jon Tenney), a well-meaning but less-than-exciting mate, both in and out of bed. Terry, by contrast, is a troubled, self-destructive soul eking out a nomadic existence. When he abandons his pregnant girlfriend to borrow money from his sister, Sammy finds her stable world disrupted. A bond soon develops between Terry and Rudy; over the objections of his mother, Terry takes the tyke fishing and shares old family secrets. Meanwhile, Terry's presence inspires Sammy to break out of her quiet life. This film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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86% liked it

8,699 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

101 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan

Release Date: November 10, 2000

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DVD Release Date: June 26, 2001

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Stats: 711 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (711)

  • LitelBluHli
    October 17, 2011
    LitelBluHli
    Crazy that this film is 11 years old. I enjoyed it and it was great to see all these actors in this film. It was touching and real. It's a movie everyday people can relate to; feeling lost in life and still managing to go through everyday finding a way to try and make it bette... read morer anyway possible.
  • hunterjt13
    September 4, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A troubled traveler lives with his sister, who is a single mom struggling with bad relationships.
    This is a subtle, deft character study that features strong performances by the two leads. Laura Linney's trademark awkward strength -- exhibited here by her clearing a nightstand, ... read moreeverything crashing to the floor, then silently wondering if she did it correctly -- is on full display as well as her moments of giddiness, similar to the staircase celebration in Love Actually. Mark Ruffalo plays the troubled rebel well.
    I did think the film's pacing was too slow at points. And there are some moments in the narration when I wondered if the film had a thematic purpose. It doesn't; we just get to know some people during the film's two hours. An example of the film's stuttered narration: I didn't see the motive for Sammy to bring in the priest to talk to her brother, and the first scene had very little to do with the rest of the film.
    Overall, it's great to see a good character study, but a well-constructed story following it is missing from this relatively strong film.
  • jennifxu
    April 29, 2011
    jennifxu
    I can feel the title emanating off of every move Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo make.
  • yona71
    October 19, 2010
    yona71
    I saw a little of this film, and found myself drawn in by it's realness and well portrayed characters by Mark Ruffalo, Laura Linney, and Rory Culkinof the talented Culkin clan.
    It centers around a brother and sister who were orphaned as children due to the death of their parents ... read morein a car accident. The sister grows to become a single mother living in the very same Catskill town raising an 8 year old son. When her brother who just seems to float around arrives for a visit, things come to the surface of the sleepy town of Scottsville New York for better or worse depending on the viewpoint or timing.
    Terry(Ruffalo) bonds with Rudy(Culkin), and wants to give him a broader perspective that he lacks in his small-town childhood by showing and telling him things that have been lost to his fathertless existence.
    Simplicity is really what makes this film work because there are no big bugdget Hollywood effects. The film's wheels turn with no more than an apt score and some fine acting revealing characters like those you may know in your very life.
  • imrealgod
    September 13, 2010
    imrealgod
    I was eager to see this one since about half year or so & was finally able to catch it last night. Unfortunately, it turned out to be just an about-average drama, and I surely was counting on more than that from it.
  • dreamfaeries
    July 9, 2010
    dreamfaeries
    Took me a little bit to get into the film, but it did win me over. Very nice little movie.
  • LWOODS04
    June 3, 2010
    LWOODS04
    CAST: Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick, Jon Tenney, Josh Lucas

    DIRECTED BY: Kenneth Lonergan

    SUMMARY: Single mom Sammy Prescott (Laura Linney) is already preoccupied with raising her son (Rory Culkin), who's become sullen -- and curious about his m... read moreissing dad -- when her wayward brother, Terry (Mark Ruffalo), appears, instantly bonding with the boy and instigating a perilous father-son reunion. Meanwhile, Sammy is embroiled in a half-hearted affair with her new boss (Matthew Broderick).

    MY THOUGHTS: "I think the thing that had me so interested and glued to the movie was how honest both characters were, how real Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo made their characters, and that they're characters people can relate to. Good story that doesn't hang on the past. Just a well acted honest story of two siblings trying to make it with what life has dealt them. Rory Culkin did great in this movie as well. I loved it, and definitely recommend it."
  • SirPant
    September 21, 2009
    SirPant
    A sweet, gentle and subtly powerful little indie. I like it a lot, it?s a shame it flew right under the radar!
  • fernandorafael
    April 27, 2008
    fernandorafael
    The direction doesn't work throughout the whole film, but in few scattered moments...The writing is great, though... The main reason this picture works are the performances by Laura Linney (amazing in everything she does) and Mark Ruffalo (always underrated). Matthew Broderick wa... read mores good and Rory Culkin showed great talent that'll hopefully be polished over the years. Funny and heartbreaking, all in one.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    February 9, 2008
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Funny, witty, and real.

View All You Can Count On Me Reviews

Critic Reviews

Susan Stark
December 22, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

The key to Lonergan's success? He has faith in the intelligence of his audience. It's that simple -- and encouraging. Full Review

Jay Boyar
December 22, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

I never thought I would say this, but I am starting to think that Laura Linney may, in fact, be a very good actress.

Eric Harrison
December 22, 2000
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

This funny and involving film presents its well-drawn characters to us pretty much the way we would encounter them in life. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
January 1, 2000
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A subtle and often surprising study of the relationship between damaged adult siblings, full of mordant humor and dramatic invention. Full Review

Peter Brunette
January 1, 2000
Peter Brunette, Film.com

Thoroughly modest in its means and ambition, You Can Count on Me is one of the best pictures I've seen all year.

Kirk Honeycutt
January 1, 2000
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

Lonergan serves his superb screenplay well.

(CNN.com) Paul Clinton
January 1, 2000
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com

If you see You Can Count On Me, you can count on a good, emotionally satisfying experience. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 1, 2000
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Superbly executed. Full Review

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Gem of a movie. Full Review

Carla Meyer
January 1, 2000
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

It's simply a quiet and heartbreaking look at the dynamics of one family. That's the beauty of it. Full Review

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  • Laura Linney was nominated for an Oscar for her role in You Can Count On Me ?  Answer »
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