"You Can Count On Me" is full of interesting, real characters that tell a simple story, without any major crises or special effects. Some people may find it boring, because it is too real, or may strike too close to home for them. I found it to be one of the more interesting films I've seen in a while.

******SPOILERS******

Kenneth Lonergan tells the story of a brother and sister who at a young age lose their parents to an automobile accident, and the long term pain and uncertainty that such an event can bring about. Sammy(Laura Linney) stays in the town she was raised in, and leads a normal if uneventful life. She spends most of her time trying to shield her 8 year old son from the horror that is his father.

Terry(Mark Ruffalo) is her younger brother who has never been quite able to get his life together, but doesn't seem in any hurry to get it together. He has traveled around the country, sometimes working, sometimes getting into trouble. Just drifting.

When Terry comes to visit Sammy, everyones world is turned around. Sammy tries to live a freer life, within parameters, like her brother. Terry tries to connect with her son and be more "normal". Both are heavily dependent on each other, and both use the 8 year old(Rory Culkin in a superb performance) as a crutch.

The beauty of the story, is in it's simplicity. This film reminded me of "The Trip to Bountiful" or "Tender Mercies". Stories that were simple and believable, populated with real people, not characters.

Linney and Ruffalo are wonderful and totally believable. Lonergan himself is terrific as Sammy's spiritual adviser.

8 out of 10