lonergan's always been especially good at finding emotional truth/clarity in the smallest of moments but there's a brief moment here where ruffalo's character terry, finally returning home after years of estrangement from his hometown, observes the local cemetery (where his parents are buried) just before the local town sign on his bus ride in that so simplistically yet vividly captures the fear of dying in a small town (also see: insignificance, laced with pity & regret) that i had to pause right there and take a break... i know the feeling too well because i've literally lived out this scene--my bus drives right by my grandparents grave anytime im forced to return to my hometown

movies am i right

This film looks and sounds like a stereotypical, sappy film that will try and pull your heartstrings. But only one man can make this film a heartfelt, genuine piece of cinema. That man is Kenneth Lonergan. Kenny is a filmmaker that tells the truth. He knows this life, he knows these people, he knows how to be genuine with his films. He makes films to tell the stories of people with baggage. Real people. People you would meet in real life. Ordinary people.

Astounding lead performances and a huge wallop of an ending. This is Mark Ruffalo's best performance and I don't know if he'll ever top it.

Viewed on DVD

You Can Count On Me was released 14 years ago. Regardless of the amount of praise a film receives at the time of it's release it can still be forgotten.
Especially a small film like this one.
I'm here to introduce or reintroduce to you the Oscar Nominated You Can Count On Me.

Seek this one out wherever you find your movies to watch.
Or if you're like me, check your shelf.
You might have purchased it years ago and forgotten all about it.

What's gonna happen to u? Nothing too bad. But i gotta tell you, i know things don't really work out too well this time, but it truly good to know wherever i am and whatever stupid shit i'm doing that you'll back at my home and rooting for me. It's all gonna be all right, Sammy, comparatively. And i'll be back around this way again.

Watch me holding back my tears from repeating the same scene over and over. Laura Linney girl if u ever need anything like body parts and stuff pls hmu bcs I would die for u.

The fact that Mark Ruffalo went from giving a Brando-tier performance in this to playing the fucking Hulk has got to be one of the great American tragedies of the 21st century

you know i'm a ruffalo soldier

lonergan has such a warm and tender touch. he understands the essence and importance of connections, the big and small moments and interactions that make up a day. “Just make sure to hit it really gentle. But firm. And hit it a little low so you get some backspin. Don't even hit it. Just kiss it.” his movies are the stuff of the soul.

The kind of film that really makes you regret the last six years Ruffalo's spent playing HULK

—You wanna smoke some pot?
—No, I don't. Why? You got some?

I didn't really know what to expect with this film. I saw it on a top ten list of great dialogue and added it to my watchlist. I finally bit the bullet and rented it.

I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a bit unconventional in it's storytelling, but the reality of it is very present. The dialogue lives up to it's top ten listing. It's as if I was sitting in the room with these characters and conversing with them. There's awkward pauses, stutters, aggression, people get defensive, angry, scared. It's well worth the watch.

The film had a budget of 1.2 million I believe and it definitely feels like a small budget film. But there's a reason it made 11 million at the box office. Very hard hitting movie and realistic. Definitely a must watch.

Didn't hit me like it did the first time, but still great.