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, Matthew Broderick, Amy Ryan

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 41 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Ryan	...	Mrs. Prescott
Michael Countryman	...	Mr. Prescott
Adam LeFevre	...	Sheriff Darryl
Halley Feiffer	...	Amy
Whitney Vance	...	Young Sammy
Peter Kerwin	...	Young Terry
Betsy Aidem	...	Minister
Laura Linney	...	Sammy
Rory Culkin	...	Rudy
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Mabel
Matthew Broderick	...	Brian
Jon Tenney	...	Bob
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Sheila
Mark Ruffalo	...	Terry
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 whom Sammy wants nothing to do. As Terry - acting as the supposed adult ...

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Plot Keywords:

bank | single mother | brother sister relationship | homecoming | siblings raising child together | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Puedes contar conmigo

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$118,170, 12 November 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$9,180,275, 10 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

J. Smith-Cameron: Mabel the bank secretary was played by the wife of Kenneth Lonergan.

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Goofs

When Samantha is talking on the phone, the handset is not connected to the base and the base is not connected to the phone jack.

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Quotes

Terry: Where were you?
Sammy: Nowhere. I had dinner with my boss.
Terry: Kind of a late dinner, ain't it?
Sammy: Yeah. How was Rudy?
Terry: Fine. He's asleep.
Sammy: Did the plumber come?
Terry: Yeah, the fucking plumber came!
Sammy: Terry, just give me a break!
Terry: What's the matter with you?
Sammy: Nothing, I'm just tired.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Referenced in In This Moment (2019)

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Soundtracks

Pilgrim
Written by Steve Earle
Performed by Steve Earle and Friends
In Tribute to Roy Huskey, Jr.
Courtesy of South Nashville Music / WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
And E-Squared, LLC.

User Reviews

Totally not interesting movie

when I went to see You can count on me, I thought it was going to be some good and sensitive movie about families torn apart. Of course I did, as I had seen it had a prize at Sundance! But you know what? I almost slept! And I dont often sleep at a movie. But this movie is just full of clichés about religion, psychology... It's all so conventional. you dont even get interested by the actors nor their characters! It could have been great, there are some interesting things in the screenplay but... I may be the only one (well, not a friend of mine agree) that have thought this movie was really not worth to be seen, but, i had to claim it!