You Can Count on Me (2000)

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

Director:

Kenneth Lonergan

Writer:

Kenneth Lonergan

Stars:

Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 37 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Adult siblings Sammy Prescott and Terry Prescott have had a special bond with each other since they were kids when their parents were tragically killed in a car accident. That bond is why single mom Sammy, who still lives in the family home in Scottsville, upstate New York with her eight year old son Rudy, is excited to hear that Terry, who she has not seen or heard from in a while, is coming home for a visit. That excitement is dampened slightly upon Terry's arrival, when she learns that he, broke, is only there to borrow money. As adults, Sammy, who works as a lending officer in the local bank, is seen as the responsible sibling, while unfocused Terry is seen as the irresponsible drifter. Regardless, Sammy welcomes what ends up being Terry's longer than planned visit if only so that he can help take care of Rudy, who has no adult male figure in his life. Rudy has never known his deadbeat biological father, with who Sammy wants nothing to do. As Terry - acting as the supposed adult ...

---

Plot Keywords:

single mother | pancake | pool table | cemetery | orphan | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2000 (Slovenia)

Also Known As:

Puedes contar conmigo

Filming Locations:

Margaretville, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£63,848 (UK) (30 March 2001)

Gross:

$9,180,275 (USA) (8 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment, Cappa Production, Crush Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Matthew Broderick, a friend of writer/director Kenneth Lonergan's, was the first actor cast in this movie. He visited Lonergan at his apartment, read the part of Brian and asked if he could audition for it. Lonergan then told him the part was already his.

---

Goofs

The film is set in Scottsville, New York, which is in the far west of the state, south of Rochester. However, a sign is seen for NY Rt28, which does not run anywhere near Scottsville. This is because the film was shot in and around Phonecia, New York, through which NY Rt28 runs.

---

Quotes

Bob Steegerson: [picks up a phone call from Sammy] Bob Steegerson.
Sammy: What are you wearing?
Bob Steegerson: Mom?

---

Crazy Credits

Jeffrey Sharp would like to dedicate his work on this film to his mother, Virginia Sharp Albright, with love and admiration.

---

Connections

Featured in The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2001)

---

Soundtracks

"The Mountain"
Written by Steve Earle
Performed by Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band
Courtesy of South Nashville Music / WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
And E-Squared, LLC.

User Reviews

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.