YOU CAN COUNT ON ME

US, 2000, 110 minutes, Colour.
Laura Linney, Mark Ruffallo, Matthew Broderick, John Tenney, Rory Culkin, Kenneth Lonergan.
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan.

You Can Count on Me is the first film directed by writer Kenneth Lonergan (Analyze This, Gangs of New York). He himself plays the United Methodist minister in the film.

It is a focus on small-town life, the relationship between a brother and sister and their frequent estrangement, the relationship between a mother and her young son. Laura Linney is very good as Samantha, the single mother bringing up her son (Rory Culkin) and working at the bank with a new manager, the demanding Brian (Matthew Broderick). She is also proposed to by Bob (John Tenney).

However, the strength of the film is in the relationship between the brother and sister. The brother, Terry (Mark Ruffalo) wanders and seems irresponsible. When he visits his sister, his influence on his nephew is seen to be detrimental, whereas he sees it as giving some strength to the boy (and even providing aspects of a father figure)>

The film rings true, although it has touches of farce, especially in the relationship between the bank manager and Samantha. However, not every problem is solved, even though the characters, especially in their clashes, come to some kind of insight.

1. A film about an American small town? People in a small town, their hopes, difficulties, struggles? A film of understanding and hope?

2. The atmosphere of the town, the location settings, the mountains and the greenery, the details of the town, the houses, the streets, clubs, banks? The musical score and the range of songs - especially their country and western commentary on the characters and the actions, especially Samantha in her relationships?

3. The title as it applies to each of the characters? The ironies when they couldn't be counted on?

4. Her age and the focus on Samantha: her age and experience, the 8-year-old son, the estranged husband and her bitterness towards him? Managing her son, over-mothering him? Her work at the bank, friends with Mabel and the others? The reaction to Brian and his demands? The clashes? The importance of picking up her son, taking him to the babysitter etc.? The relationship with Bob, asking him questions, the sexual relationship with him? His proposal and her refusal, her thinking about it, her refusal? The prospect of Terry's visit? Preparing, meeting him? The meal, her anger at learning he had been in prison? The love between the two, the death of their parents? Terry and his influence on Rudi? Her angers, happiness? The detail at home - mending the roof, the hammer and nails, going to play pool, lies? Terry and his unreliability and her anger? The affair with Brian, the phone calls, going out in the night? Meeting his wife? Terry taking Rudi to see his father and her anger, ordering him away? The finale with the farewell? His explanation about his future? Her driving away and her own future?

5. The prologue, the husband and wife in the car and their talk, the ordinariness of the situation, the suddenness of the accident? The gravesites and their repercussions for their children, Samantha at the grave at the beginning, Terry going at the end? His touching his parents' graves?

6. Terry, being wild, going away, travelling, writing letters? His relationship with Sheila - and her attempted suicide? His phone call, sending the money, his going to see her at the end and the uncertainty of the prospects? Age, experience, his arrival, the scene in the café, the truth about being in jail? His attachment to Rudi? Becoming something of a father figure - teaching him to hammer nails, the work on the roof, watching television? The taking him to the pool, not wanting him to tell his mother and his anger when he thought he had? The visit to his father? The fight, jail? Taking him fishing? The bond between the two? In himself, his uncertainties, wanting to wander? The discussions with Samantha, the final discussion and his leaving? Coming to say goodbye? Promising to write?

7. Rudi, his age, his abilities, being mothered, protected? Homework and essays?

8. The prospect of Terry coming and his not being happy? The bonding between them, the experience of hammering, the playing pool and winning, his being hurt when Terry thought he had told his mother? The prospect of going fishing? The boring fishing? Going to see his father and observing, refusing to believe that Rudi Senior was his father? The attack of not talking to his mother, the reconciliation, the farewell to Terry?

9. Brian, meticulous, dominating, separating business from after-hours? His pregnant wife? The clashes with Samantha, the kissing, the affair - and ringing up in the night? The continuing clashes at work? Firing her? The changing of the colour on the computer screens? His future with his wife?

10. Bob, pleasant, friendly, sexual relationship, the proposal, his being agreeable and helping Samantha out in every Crisis, especially about Terry in prison? A future with Samantha or not?

11. The policeman, friendship, welcoming Terry, telling Samantha about the pool night, his help at the end?

12. The picture of people in the town, the ordinariness of life? The minister and his manner, welcoming people at church, the personal advice, coming out of clerical clothes, the talk with Terry - the danger of being patronising, yet speaking sincerely about his own beliefs? Samantha and her wanting the church to teach clearly the nature of sin - not psychological understandings? His inability to do this? A portrait of a `90s priest?

13. The insights into human nature? Problems, ordinariness, mess, understanding, hope?