4. You Can Count on Me (Dir.: Kenneth Lonergan, 2000)
You Can Count on Me is a simple movie with a simple story but is acted beautifully and has such charm and warmth that normalcy is welcomed with embracing arms. Samantha (Laura Linney in an Oscar nominated role) is a single mother to her ten year old son Rudy (Rory Culkin). Her life becomes complicated when she gets a new boss at her bank (played with slimy glee by Matthew Broderick) and her wayward drifter brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo) arrives in town. Sammy has a boyfriend who is a decent man but she refuses to marry him just because hes there. She also ends up having a dysfunctional affair with her married boss Brian (Broderick) despite the obvious self-destruction involved. Terry is drifting aimlessly through life. Hes a handy man and an odd-jobber who has no plans or no dreams. The dichotomy set up between the siblings is wonderful. Sammy chastises terry for his aimlessness and for his lack of faith when her behaviour is far from rebuke. The Oscar nominated script is full of such wonderful and realistic dialogue that simply hanging out with the characters is a joy. When Terry takes Rudy to a bar to play a high stakes pool game, youll find yourself jumping for joy which is indicative of Lonergans writing which has made you completely fall in love with the characters. The title of the film is actually never spoken. It is hinted as something used to say to each other as kids but this is the overall message of the movie. Having loved ones family and friends in ones life is of paramount importance. The bonds that are shared are unbreakable and no matter how much Terry and Sammy squabble with each other their love and trust in each other carries them through. It almost seems like an insult labelling this movie a feel-good movie but in essence thats exactly what it does. The message is so pure and positive it will simply leave the audience feeling just that.