You Can Count on Me

Name: You Can Count on Me
Genre: Drama
Released: November 10, 2000
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Laura Linney, Matthew Broderick

2000

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 87 Ratings

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You Can Count On Me

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Classics | Release Date: November 10, 2000

Starring: Laura Linney, Matthew Broderick

Summary: A young mother (Laura Linney) is cheating on her fiancé (Jon Tenney) with her boss (Matthew Broderick), and her life becomes further complicated by the return home of her wild brother (Mark Ruffalo).

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Awards & Rankings

9	#9 Best Movie of 2000
70	#70 Most Discussed Movie of 2000
50	#50 Most Shared Movie of 2000

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Newsweek - David Ansen

Few films have explored the complicated bonds of love and resentment between brother and sister with such delightful honesty.

100

San Francisco Chronicle - Carla Meyer

It's simply a quiet and heartbreaking look at the dynamics of one family. That's the beauty of it. Read full review

100

Slate - David Edelstein

The best American movie of the year. Has a subtext so powerful that it reaches out and pulls you under. Even when the surface is tranquil, you know in your guts what's at stake. Read full review

Variety - Emanuel Levy

A sensitive, intimate, enormously touching drama. Read full review

USA Today - Staff [Not Credited]

The best drama you've seen about Anytown, USA, since "American Beauty."

L.A. Weekly - Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

(Linney and Ruffalo) are just beautiful enough, in fact, to be in the movies and still remain convincing as authentic folk, and their performances are tremendously moving. Read full review

New York Post - Jonathan Foreman

Visually flat and uninteresting and too often feels like a (leisurely paced) filmed play. Read full review

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User Reviews

joomjim4

Jun 18, 2012

This film was so simple in such a perfect sense. The unpretentiousness of the film leads to the deeper greatness that can be overwhelmingly emotionally touched by viewers. The love, the warmth, the bond everything about the film was so true that it somehow connects to our lives one way orThis film was so simple in such a perfect sense. The unpretentiousness of the film leads to the deeper greatness that can be overwhelmingly emotionally touched by viewers. The love, the warmth, the bond everything about the film was so true that it somehow connects to our lives one way or another. A Beautiful Film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JoeW.

Feb 14, 2006

I know how pretentious this sounds but I liked the religious ambiguity of the movie...Terry's view on life is so well presented and rings true of most people I know --especially when he talks to the priest--and the priest is not a foreboding feature either--he's reasonable-- the I know how pretentious this sounds but I liked the religious ambiguity of the movie...Terry's view on life is so well presented and rings true of most people I know --especially when he talks to the priest--and the priest is not a foreboding feature either--he's reasonable-- the writing is awesome--ken lonergan's commentary is great! really worth a listen--see this movie!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Chrrowley

Sep 23, 2011

A wonderful tender film that beautifully explores the complex relationship between a brother, sister, and child. Has a small town authenticity rarely seen in films, and has left me waiting patiently for over a decade to see Mr. Lonergan's follow up. A streak which will be broken next weekA wonderful tender film that beautifully explores the complex relationship between a brother, sister, and child. Has a small town authenticity rarely seen in films, and has left me waiting patiently for over a decade to see Mr. Lonergan's follow up. A streak which will be broken next week when the infamous and anticipated "Margaret" reaches the big screen.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

hsm2310

Oct 14, 2013

You Can Count on Me is one of the best 'slice of life' movies that I have ever seen. Laura Linney is at her usual best, perfectly cast for the role and Mark Ruffalo, is extraordinarily raw and funny and is key to most of the unforgettable moments in the film. Kenneth Lonergan has written aYou Can Count on Me is one of the best 'slice of life' movies that I have ever seen. Laura Linney is at her usual best, perfectly cast for the role and Mark Ruffalo, is extraordinarily raw and funny and is key to most of the unforgettable moments in the film. Kenneth Lonergan has written a refreshingly original script and pulled it off exceptionally well despite having two siblings fighting with the vicissitudes of life as the protagonists.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

Rarely is it so much fun to watch the interaction of characters on screen - not because their actions are so unbelievable (though they are almost always unpredictable), but more because they are all so grounded in reality and truth.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BKM

Feb 1, 2012

A smart, complex and honest look at the ties that bind siblings together for better or worse. Linney and Ruffalo are terrific as a brother and sister working out their issues and the film is constantly challenging our preconceptions about who these people are and what drives their behaviors.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarkR.

Feb 9, 2001

Average TV-movie drivel that I click past on Lifetime nearly every night. Boring characters, tepid dialogue, unbelievable situations--it's claim to fame is supposedly how real it is, but that don't mean it ain't boring.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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