You Can Count On Me (2000) Review

A heartfelt indie classic of siblings, love, and forgiveness

Premise - “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

Noteworthy cast - Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Amy Ryan, and Rory Culkin

My thoughts - Kenneth Lonergan’s 2000 indie drama You Can Count on Me is one of the most beautiful portrayals of the complicated & unconditional tough love dynamic between siblings.

Shared trauma, laughs, and years together can never be erased. But those shared childhoods will shape adulthood in very different ways.

Some will cling to the small town & others will mock those who stay in the small town.

Some will cling to the faith of their parents and others will disregard it entirely.

Some will allow childhood trauma to make them a control freak while others will let loose and live life as it comes.

Despite differences that will always exist, what will never change is the need for the other, even if you are too proud to admit it.

If you are in the mood for a slow, thoughtful drama that has a little bit of comedy sprinkled in, You Can Count on Me may be the answer.

Rating - 4.5/5

How did it do at the box office? - Grossed $11.2 million ($9.4 million domestically) on a $1.2 million budget

Did it win any Oscars? - It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay & Laura Linney was nominated for Best Actress. Neither won.

Where to watch - Currently streaming on Pluto TV