This is How Movies Should Be Made

Good movie but grossly overrated

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

A prodigal brother returns to his small hometown and bonds with his nephew. Meanwhile, his sister is having trouble with her new boss.The uncle who drives us all crazy but it the centre of endless wonderful anecdotes. Every family has one, I'm sure. Mine decided to climb in our open window one night because he didn't want to wake the house. He fell through the Christmas tree and our dog attacked him, which woke the whole neighbourhood. Mark Ruffalo as uncle Terry is darkly manic, providing the man of the house role for nephew Rudy (a broody Rory Culkin) though without the necessary sense of boundaries. When Rudy sinks the winning ball in a pool game, you know it is a moment that will live with him forever. And also that he shouldn't be there in the first place.Sammy (an impressive Laura Linney) focuses on the latter while being painfully aware of the former. She tears into her brother while also being aware that she has her own difficult to exorcise demons. Her solution to asserting herself with a prickly new boss is to seduce him. She has a nice boyfriend, who gives her what she wants but without the violins and chills. But she is old enough to know you can't always have violins and chills, but young enough to grab them when the opportunity arises.The script authentically portrays a parade of small-town characters: the boss who is a socially limited jobsworth. The clergyman who is weary but morally centered. The estranged Dad. With every new character you find yourself thinking "I know someone like that." The tensions and exchanges between characters are realistic and resonate with our own experiences. And just like our own experiences, there are no pat solutions. Should Sammy marry Bob? Is Terry going to be OK? Is Rudy Snr really the biological father of Rudy Jnr? The film raises the questions, not to answer them, but to hold up a mirror to the minutiae of everyday life.This is a well-written, finely acted relationships drama that hits on a few home truths.

"You Can Count on Me" is a great contemporary art work, with an incredibly astute script by the director, Kenneth Lonergen. The acting is flawless, headed by Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo and Rory Culkin, with kudos also for Matthew Broderick.The film deserves all of its awards, which include those from the Sundance and the New York Film Critics.I've watched this film several times and each viewing offers new and fresh insights. Small details emerge with each viewing that weren't apparent before, including character development, production design and its classic (Bach) and contemporary score.It's a sharp commentary on modern values and dilemmas. I'd say Mr. Lonergen has created a brilliant piece of contemporary artwork, and the film deserves all the accolades it has received and continues to receive. Bravo to all participants in this commendable achievement.

American playwright, screenwriter and director Kenneth Lonergan's feature film debut tells the story of sibling couple Terry and Sammy who lost their parents in a car accident when they were children. Twenty years later, Sammy still lives in their childhood home in Scottsville, New York and is a single mum working at the local bank. She has not heard from Terry in months, but when he suddenly shows up in town telling her that he has no money and no place to go, she invites him to stay with her and introduced him to her son Rudy.This gratifying and compassionate family drama about an estranged brother and sister who are reunited at their home town two decades after a life altering incident, is hands down one of the most wonderful American independent films i've ever seen. "You Can Count on Me", which was shot in Margaretville, New York, executive produced by Martin Scorsese and honored with numerous film awards during the turn of the millennium, deals with existentialistic themes in a more humane than theoretical way and is a dialog-driven study of character strengthened by it's authentic milieu depictions.The film is wittingly written and acutely directed by Kenneth Lonergan who gives an uncommonly realistic portrayal of a devoting and deeply affectionate relationship between a brother and sister who has chosen opposite paths in life. Mark Ruffalo and Laura Linney interprets Terry and Sammy with striking conviction and their reverent performances, which i would place on any list over the best performances given in the last decade, is alone reason enough to see this humorous and thoughtful film which also contains great scenes between Mark Ruffalo and Rory Culkin and between Laura Linney and Matthew Broderick. The varied and mood-setting music works well, and this is the kind of film that reaches our hearts and conveys something pivotal about basic life values.

Laura Linney stars opposite Mark Ruffalo in a heart-warming light drama as siblings who lost their parents to an accident when they were kids. A mother to an 8-year old boy, Sammy Prescott (Linney) lives an ordinary life as a lending officer in a local bank in Scottsville. She goes to church regularly and dates an affable guy Bob. Everything was going well until Brian (Mathew Broderick), the new bank manager who is married to a 6-month pregnant obnoxious woman, enters Sammy's life. The two started on a wrong foot but eventually worked things out "carnally".Mark Ruffalo plays Terry Prescott, the brother who lost his way out of Scottsville. Faced with a financial struggle, Terry went back to Scottsville to ask for Sammy's help. Sammy was all excited to see her brother whom she hadn't heard from in three months. When she found out that Terry was jailed, Sammy got furious but because she loves her brother so much, she asked him to stay for a while to which Terry obliged.The film's strengths are the brilliant performances of Linney and Ruffalo and its well-written script by Kenneth Lonergan.Laura Linney is a pleasure to watch as the woman who tries to put things in order. She gave a natural and real performance whose screen presence is just so powerful that she's able to maintain the connection to the audience throughout the duration of the movie. Best scene-the restaurant.Mark Ruffalo fabulously portrayed his character as a man who's lost his way but still fully connected to his sense of self. Terry is not the ideal uncle who's supposed to be exemplary to children. It was a well-executed performance and by far his best performance. Best scene-the restaurant.