You Can Count on Me (2000)

You Can Count on Me (2000)

A supremely acted drama with Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney, exploring the complicated nature of siblinghood

The Very Best

9.4

Movie

United States of America
English
Drama, Family
2000
KENNETH LONERGAN
Adam LeFevre, Amy Ryan, Betsy Aidem
111 min

What it's about

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

The take

Written and directed by Academy-Award-winning Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea, Gangs of New York), you can certainly count on the qualities of this subtle, beautiful, and moving drama about two siblings growing apart and reuniting later in life.

An Academy-Award-nominated Laura Linney plays Sammy, a single mother in a small town who is extremely protective of her 8-year-old son. When her younger and somewhat troubled brother Terry (played by the ever-reliable Mark Ruffalo) visits her out of the blue, Sammy has to deal with a slew of contradicting emotions towards her brother, whose appearance threatens to upend her life as she knew it.

Straight, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted, You Can Count on Me is an honest and genuine exploration of unconditional love in celluloid form. Think of it as much more hopeful The Skeleton Twins.

Comments

I like both Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney but not a fan at all of this movie…

I wasn’t expecting much going into this, and while the story might seem “small”, there is much more to this movie than meets the eye. Fantastic acting, especially from Mark Ruffalo. I loved it.

Add a comment

What did you think? Who should watch it?

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Gosford Park (2001)

A masterclass in narrative plate-spinning from Robert Altman and his feast of a cast

8.7

Perpetrator (2023)

In this stunning feminist horror, an unruly teen with supernatural powers fights against the kidnapper of young women in their small town

8.1

Support Group Olympus (2021)

Olympians take group therapy, though the film needed work on its patient histories

5.5

Forgotten Love (2023)

The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama

7.7

Do Not Disturb (2023)

A confusing Turkish Netflix comedy-drama with less comedy than hoped for

5.3

Love Is in the Air (2023)

It’s even more cliched and implausible than most standard-issue romantic comedies, but this Aussie film is not without its charms

6.0

The Black Book (2023)

A Nigerian revenge thriller seeking justice against corrupt institutions

7.0

Reptile (2023)

It’s not as taut as it could be, but this slow-burn thriller has a captivating lead in Benicio del Toro

7.0

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

9.1

Overhaul (2023)

A generic racing-action movie with a more distinct personality from its obvious inspirations

5.1

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2023 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.