You Can Count On Me

Rating:
Summary: You Can Count On This Film
Review: "You Can Count On Me" is a great drama 2000 release starring Laura Linney, Matthew Broderick, Mark Ruffalo, and introducing Rory Culkin. It received two Oscar nominations: Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress (Linney). This unfortunely underrated film has captured the hearts of many since its release. Its plot of a woman living a tough life reunites with her brother. She must try everything possible to prevent him from making potential mistakes and to help him rid the trouble he's already endured. Meanwhile, she begins an affair with her boss who's married. Such substancial order of events and others keep the drama and the emotion alive throughout the film. As the characters' turmoilic drama explores itself one on one, the substance grows while keeping the plot interesting. The performers express these emotional themes beautifully, namely Linney and Ruffalo. All give the film the additional sorrow and roughness necessary to give this film the great environment it deserves. "You Can Count On Me" is a great drama that will surely continue pleasing audiences for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: THE LOVELY LAURA
Review: Laura Linney is one of the most gifted, yet lowkey, actresses on our screens today. Whether rambling through the jungles in the ridiculous CONGO, or teaming with Richard Gere in both PRIMAL FEAR and MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, or exploding the screen with her small but monumental performance in MYSTIC RIVER, she lights the screen with her downhome loveliness, and what's more, her on-target realistic performances. It's like she's not acting at all.
She brings this luminescence to her Oscar nominated performance in YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, Kenneth Lonergan's tidy little slice of life that has no real huge plot...but just shows us quite realistically the relationship between a woman and her ne'er do well brother; how his sudden reappearance in her life affects her eight year old son, and even herself as she juggles a romance with a dependable, if nonexciting beau, and her new boss at the bank, who is both married and a father to be.
Along with Linney's wonderful performance, she is joined by a very excellent cast: Mark Ruffalo (Last Castle, 13 Going on 30) shines as her brother, Terry, an immature young man going through life without real purpose, or goals. Terry, however, is a sensitive young man, and sincere in his relationship with Linney's young son. Rory Culkin as that young son, is marvelous in his normal performance. He seems like he is Linney's son and his questioning eyes and obvious hurt of not being loved by his scumbag father are key to the plot's development. Matthew Broderick portrays the stuffy, staid bank manager who beds Linney in a passionate search for real love or something close. Once you meet his pregnant wife, you'll see why he jumps into the sack with Linney. Jon Tenney as Linney's current boyfriend, Bob, is marvelous too as he shows what a dependable, loving and sincere lover he is to Linney; she won't marry him, though, probably because he's too reserved, maybe even boring. But his performance is quiet, controlled and makes one wish he'd open up more and have fun with his life.
That may be Lonergan's ultimate message..life is something to be cherished, no matter where you live or how you live it, just cherish it and enjoy it.
A marvelously low key film that is one of the best of this type.

Rating:
Summary: I must have watched something else...
Review: Reading the reviews here and on the DVD jacket of this movie are really bizzare to me. This movie was so boring that I couldn't finish it. Don't get me wrong... I love dramas. Especially indie dramas. But this one was just seemed very uninspired. Maybe I'll try renting it again... maybe watch in a different frame of mind? Nahhh.