Search - You Can Count on Me on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Not For Children, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Drug Content Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 06/26/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 50 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Reunion Films, Family Drama See Also: You Can Count On Me [Circuit City Exclusive] [Checkpoint]

Kenneth Lonergan, the co-screenwriter for Analyze This (1999), makes his directorial debut with this sensitive portrait of a pair of grown siblings. Sammy and Terry Prescott (Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo) were orphaned as children after their parents were killed in a car accident. Since then, the two have taken drastically divergent paths. Sammy is a single mother who leads a quiet, stable life in a small town in upstate New York. A fiercely protective mother, she shields her young son Rudy (Rory Culkin) from all information about his absentee father. She is also involved with Bob (Jon Tenney), a well-meaning but less-than-exciting mate, both in and out of bed. Terry, by contrast, is a troubled, self-destructive soul eking out a nomadic existence. When he abandons his pregnant girlfriend to borrow money from his sister, Sammy finds her stable world disrupted. A bond soon develops between Terry and Rudy; over the objections of his mother, Terry takes the tyke fishing and shares old family secrets. Meanwhile, Terry's presence inspires Sammy to break out of her quiet life. This film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Laura Linney - Sammy Prescott
Mark Ruffalo - Terry Prescott
Rory Culkin - Rudy
Matthew Broderick - Brian
Jon Tenney - Bob

Kenneth Lonergan's critically acclaimed examination of the bond between two siblings maintains all of its charm and grace in this very good DVD presentation. The 1.85:1 widescreen image is rich with color, though it would have benefited from slightly more contrast. If the occasional dimly lit scene transfers more as gray than black, the accurate flesh tones and lush outdoor scenery make up the difference. The Dolby Digital Sound is quite winning, from the beautiful cello that commands much of the score to Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo's dynamic, nuanced dialogue. Lonergan uses music to paint emotions, and the DVD translates these emotions perfectly. The supplemental material is light, but the movie would have stood fine on its own. "A Look Inside" is an 11-minute lovefest, where the primary actors (Linney, Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Kieran Culkin) and Lonergan all praise each other's abilities and performances and give small insights into their characters' backgrounds. Lonergan's commentary track goes into detail regarding his inspiration for the characters and his own take on the randomness of life, all the while tossing mild sarcasm at the actors. The commentary eventually suffers from spelling out too much; the movie's subtle power speaks for itself. The "Scene Selections" menu gives instant access to the DVD's 19 chapters via chapter titles, numbers, and still images. You Can Count On Me is one of those rare titles where filmographies would be welcome, as the acting and writing are so masterful, but there are none to be found. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide