You Can Count on Me (2000)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

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
Kenneth Lonergan	...	Ron
Nina Garbiras	...	Nancy Everett
Richard Hummer	...	Plumber
Kim Parker	...	Rudy Sr.'s Girlfriend
Josh Lucas	...	Rudy (Kolinski) Sr.
Allan Gill	...	Older Cop
Brian Ramage	...	Young Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Kean Murphy	...	Chuck (uncredited)

Directed by
Kenneth Lonergan

Writing credits (WGA)
Kenneth Lonergan		(written by)

Produced by
Keith Abell	....	co-producer
Steve Carlis	....	executive producer
Donald C. Carter	....	executive producer
Barbara De Fina	....	producer
Jill Footlick	....	line producer
John Hart	....	producer (as John N. Hart)
Julian Iragorri	....	co-producer
Robert Kravis	....	associate producer
Larry Meistrich	....	producer
Rachel Peters	....	associate producer
Martin Scorsese	....	executive producer
Jeff Sharp	....	producer (as Jeffrey Sharp)
Morton Swinsky	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lesley Barber

Cinematography by
Stephen Kazmierski		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anne McCabe

Casting by
Lina Todd

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Art Direction by
Shawn Carroll

Set Decoration by
Lydia Marks

Costume Design by
Melissa Toth

Makeup Department
Chris Bingham	....	key makeup artist
James Post	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Jill Footlick	....	unit production manager
Christopher Kenneally	....	post-production supervisor (as Chris Kenneally)
Jamie H. Zelermyer	....	production supervisor
Jamey Pryde	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Lerman	....	first assistant director
Michael A. Moffa	....	second second assistant director (as Michael Moffa)
Peter Thorell	....	second assistant director
Greg Milton	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Adam Carroll	....	art department intern
Chris DesMarais	....	property master (as Chris Des Marais)
Matt Duncan	....	on-set dresser
Susan Glod	....	scenic
Mario Herrera	....	scenic
Ken Krug	....	artwork
Francis Maiorino	....	art department assistant
Grace Maloney	....	art department intern
Ellen Nylen	....	shopper
Janine Pesce	....	assistant property master
Mark Ruben	....	carpenter
Kristin Wolfe	....	art department intern

Sound Department
Ryan Aktari	....	assistant sound engineer
David Briggs	....	foley editor
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Patrick Dundas	....	foley recordist
Robert Fernandez	....	re-recording engineer
Matthew Fleece	....	adr engineer
Wendy Hedin	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Hoff	....	boom operator (as Lawrence Hoff)
Geoff Lippman	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Geof Lipman)
Kevin Meehan	....	boom operator
Kelly Neese	....	boom operator
Peter Schneider	....	sound mixer
Michael Shore	....	dialogue editor (as Mike Shore)

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunt driver
Don Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
George Alias	....	additional grip
Dave Anderson	....	gaffer
John Billeci	....	additional electrician
Hugo Bonilla	....	company electrician
Francesca Cobaco	....	additional electrician (as Max Corbacho)
Edward Cohen	....	gaffer (as Ed Cohen)
Jada Cox	....	additional electrician
Moira Demos	....	additional electrician
Rebekah Frankel	....	additional electrician
Daryl Furr	....	best boy electric
Sandy Hays	....	Steadicam operator
Jendra Jarnagin	....	company electrician (as Jendra Robinson)
Todd S. Klein	....	key grip (as Todd Klein)
Ariane Lemay	....	second assistant camera
Chris Meehan	....	company grip
Peter Reigner	....	company grip
Timothy Reilly	....	additional grip
Larry Riley	....	still photographer
Eddie Rodriguez	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Rudolph	....	company electrician
Adam Snyder	....	best boy grip
Jim Sofranko	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Francis Spieldenner	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Igor Srubshchik	....	video playback operator
Niknaz Tavakolian	....	camera loader
Aurelia Winborn	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Laurie Allen	....	casting assistant
Domenic Andreoli	....	extras casting
Lauren Spielberg	....	extras casting assistant
Nicole Wohl	....	casting assistant
Domenic Andreoli	....	additional casting (uncredited)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy McCusker	....	wardrobe assistant
Erica Westheimer	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Mike Fay	....	assistant editor
Alfredo Frasson	....	color timer
Joe Hobeck	....	post-production assistant
Eric Morgan	....	post-production intern
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Ken Rubenfeld	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)
David Taylor	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Banton-Jones	....	music engineer
Lesley Barber	....	orchestrator
Roman Borys	....	musician: cello
Robert Carli	....	scoring assistant (as Rob Carli)
Barry Cole	....	music supervisor
Christopher Covert	....	music supervisor
Timothy Kirkpatrick	....	background vocals
Ross Klavan	....	background vocals
Martin Loomer	....	score preparation
Matthew P. McCarthy	....	background vocals (as Matthew McCarthy)
Susan Shufro	....	music editor
Mark Skazinetsky	....	orchestra leader
Cynthia Steljes	....	musician: oboe
John Welsman	....	orchestral contractor
Rae C. Wright	....	background vocals
Christine Bergren	....	music licensing (uncredited)

Transportation Department
David Conelli	....	additional driver
Sean Heilig	....	transportation co-captain
Larry 'Reg Dunlop' McGee	....	additional driver
Tom Weissler	....	transportation captain (as Tommy Weissler)

Other crew
Kevin Tyler Asch	....	set production assistant
Jason Block	....	post-production accountant
Dan Brillman	....	production assistant
Peter Burns	....	assistant: Mr. Hart and Mr. Sharp (as Pete Burns)
Alexandra Bush	....	production coordinator
Clay Carmouche	....	additional production assistant (as Marcus Carmouche)
Jared Cauliffe	....	office intern
Lisa Diamond	....	post-production accountant
Aaron Dobbs	....	additional production assistant
Larry Donahue	....	caterer
Mark Erdman	....	production secretary
Cara Forte	....	set intern
Michael Ginsburg	....	location assistant
Nicole Holmquist	....	tutor
Patrick Kendall	....	film runner
Annie Kuronyi	....	assistant location manager
Steven C. Lawrence	....	key production assistant
Patrick Lee	....	credit facility arranger: Imperial Bank
Raechel Legakes	....	film runner
Robyn Lencheski	....	office intern
Erica Levy	....	assistant: Ms. De Fina
Martin Loomer	....	copyist
Chris Marsh	....	additional location assistant
Melissa Mortensen	....	cast runner
Melissa Myers	....	additional production assistant
Tanoa Parks	....	production accountant
Bennett Pozil	....	credit facility arranger: Natexis Banque
Morgan H. Rector	....	credit facility arranger: Imperial Bank (as Morgan Rector)
Teresa Reilly	....	assistant to director
Danielle Reisigl	....	office production assistant
James Robinette	....	assistant caterer
Phil Rodowsky	....	continuity and spotting
Todd Rodowsky	....	continuity and spotting
Susan Senk	....	publicist
Anthony Serignese	....	additional production assistant
George Sheanshang	....	production and distribution consultant (as George Sheanshang Esq.)
Kelly Smith	....	assistant production coordinator
Luke Smith	....	set intern
Michael Taylor	....	script supervisor
Josh Telson	....	set intern (as Joshua Telson)
Ivan Therrien	....	office intern
Tiffany Thomas	....	assistant production accountant
Hsuan Tsen	....	additional production assistant
Barnaby Fisher Turner	....	set intern
Juliet Verni	....	location intern
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Erin Stacey Visslailli	....	set production assistant
Wendy Wong	....	office intern
Jasmine Zauberer	....	craft service
Jon Zeidman	....	location manager (as Jonathan Zeidman)
Brian Carroll	....	location intern (uncredited)
Amy Nickin	....	production legal (uncredited)

Thanks
Kathy Carlis	....	special thanks
May Chan	....	special thanks
Matthew Dawson	....	special thanks
Beth Emelson	....	special thanks
Glenn Fitzgerald	....	special thanks
Josh Hamilton	....	special thanks
Heather Holst	....	special thanks
Tom Johnson	....	special thanks
Janet Kraft	....	special thanks
Ken Krug	....	thanks: artwork
Margaret Leveson	....	thanks
Mary Alice Lindquist	....	thanks
Sheila McIntyre	....	special thanks (as Shelia McIntyre)
Payson Meistrich	....	special thanks
Quinn Meistrich	....	special thanks
Shireen Meistrich	....	special thanks
Mary Morgan	....	thanks
Geoffrey Nauffts	....	special thanks
Chip Pederson	....	special thanks
Kathy Pederson	....	special thanks
Thomas W. Pederson	....	special thanks
Virginia Sharp Albright	....	dedicatee: by Jeff Sharp (II )
Rod Sharp	....	special thanks
Carol Slutsky-Tenerowicz	....	thanks
Kelly Wolf	....	special thanks
Missy Yager	....	special thanks
Richard Zeller	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Hart-Sharp Entertainment
• Cappa Production
• Crush Entertainment
• Shooting Gallery

Distributors

• Paramount Classics (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Blackwatch Releasing (2000) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Keyfilms Roma (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures (2000) (UK) (all media)
• Net5 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS) (special edition)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Tsg Pictures
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)

Other Companies

• Axium Entertainment Group  production payroll
• David Kramer's Looping Group  background vocals
• Effects House, The  titles and opticals
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  production insurance
• Gun for Hire Post  adr and foley facilities
• Gun for Hire Post  post-production accounting
• Gun for Hire Post  post-production supervising
• Gun for Hire Resources  production services
• Imperial Bank  credit facility arranged by
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  research and clearance
• Match Cut Film Services  negative cutting
• McClear Digital  recorded at
• Movie Chef's Catering  catering
• Natexis Banque  credit facility arranged by
• On-Core Productions  continuity and spotting
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Post Production Playground  video dailies transfers
• Republic National Bank of New York  production bank
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording engineering
• Xeno Lights  lighting and grip equipment

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:

Kenneth Lonergan plays minister Ron in two major scenes counseling Terry at Sammy's house, and then counseling Sammy in his office. Since Lonergan had a lot of dialogue in those two scenes, he turned over the directing to Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo, respectively.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: 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:

Sammy: What is happening here?
Terry: It's just the problem is the pipes are corroded the whole length of the hall, so every time I put a new piece in it starts leaking further down.
Sammy: Why don't I just call the plumber?
Terry: Why? He's not gonna do anything different than what I'm doing.
Rudy: Yeah, we're only making it worse.
Terry: No we're not, shut up!
[Terry pulls a pipe out of the floor and accidentally sprays Sammy with water]
Sammy: Thanks. Thank you.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Pilgrim

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.