You Can Count on Me
A responsible single mother and her drifting brother confront the fragile roles, old grief, and unspoken loyalties binding their family together.
Overview
A heartfelt exploration of family bonds and the complexities of adulthood.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- intimate
- witty
- quiet weekend
- character drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed Kenneth Lonergan's precise writing, naturalistic direction, and deeply empathetic performances in this exquisitely observed upstate New York family drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sammy, Terry, Bob, and Brian repeatedly communicate indirectly, with everyday conversations carrying unresolved emotional stakes.
The film treats banking, childcare, family visits, and small-town routines as worthy of close, empathetic attention.
Sammy and Terry's closeness originates in their parents' death and remains central despite their divergent adult lives.
Terry is regarded as the drifting, immature sibling, while Sammy's responsible life also contains uncertainty and emotional avoidance.
Films like You Can Count on Me, and why
The Savages
empathetic small-town family drama centered on sibling bonds, emotional restraint, and finely observed dialogue
The Squid and the Whale
naturalistic American drama about complicated family relationships, personal responsibility, and unresolved emotional tensions
The Station Agent
quietly melancholic character study blending family intimacy, adulthood, and understated humor
Margaret
emotionally precise ensemble drama exploring imperfect people, domestic obligations, and difficult communication
Movie Details
- Director
- Kenneth Lonergan
- Release Date
- 2000-03-03
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (368)
Cast
- Laura Linney
- Mark Ruffalo
- Matthew Broderick
- Jon Tenney
- Rory Culkin
- J. Smith-Cameron
- Josh Lucas
- Gaby Hoffmann
- Adam LeFevre
- Amy Ryan
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is You Can Count on Me about?
- A responsible single mother and her drifting brother confront the fragile roles, old grief, and unspoken loyalties binding their family together.
- What is You Can Count on Me like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of You Can Count on Me as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is You Can Count on Me violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in You Can Count on Me as mild.
- What did critics think of You Can Count on Me?
- Critics broadly acclaimed Kenneth Lonergan's precise writing, naturalistic direction, and deeply empathetic performances in this exquisitely observed upstate New York family drama.
- Which films are like You Can Count on Me?
- Films with a similar feel include The Savages, The Squid and the Whale, The Station Agent, and Margaret.
- How long is You Can Count on Me?
- You Can Count on Me runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch You Can Count on Me?
- In United States, You Can Count on Me is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
