You Can Count On Me

“The film tells the story of two adult siblings who lost their parents to a car accident when they were kids. Older sister Sammy has stayed in the small town in Upstate New York, a single mom raising a son and working as the loan officer at a bank. Young brother Terry is a bit of a drifter, who Sammy can’t help but worry about when she hears from him sporadically if at all. When she receives a letter that he will be back in town, he reminds her son, who is currently eight, about his uncle who he last saw two years ago. Sammy is filled with excitement at Terry’s return, but that excitement soon turns to frustration as it turns out he’s only back to borrow some money to help a girl out in Worcester where he was living. Circumstances change and Terry ends up staying for a while, and the siblings and Sammy’s daughter start to share a domestic life that is on the one hand comfortable and warm, yet spiked with some of Terry’s behavior that Sammy deems irresponsible, especially in the context of an 8-year-old child. To complicate matter, Terry’s presence seems to bring out the irresponsible side of Sammy, who becomes inappropriately involved her her new, married, bank manager, despite their contentious relationship at work. Things come to head, and Sammy must face that fact that although she wants nothing more than to have her brother with her and part of their family, his presence is not a positive one.

“I was pleased that the film held up to it’s first viewing. The screenplay is very strong, believable, funny and powerfully moving. There is one misstep toward the beginning, with an overly dramatic argument taking place in a restaurant that didn’t ring true. Laura Linney is exceptional as Sammy. At first coming across as the good girl, struggling to balance work and single motherhood, but responsible, her questionable decisions later in the film seem natural. Mark Ruffalo is… fine. He does a good job as the charismatic ne’er do well, who means well but sometimes reacts without thinking. I guess my main problem with Ruffalo is that every role he plays is delivered the same way, whether he is Bruce Banner, of Terry. Rory Culkin is terrific as Sammy’s son, in a role that needs to be grounded and believable given the emotional scenes he is wrapped up in. Still, happy to revisit this film, and to give it.  4 cats“