Celebrated playwright Kenneth Lonergan first brought his rich, humanist vision to the screen with this soulful look at the complexities of a sibling relationship whose roots are as knotted as they are deep. Years after Sammy (Laura Linney) and her younger brother, Terry (Mark Ruffalo), lost their parents in a car crash, small-town single mother Sammy is plunged into another crisis when the troubled, adrift Terry comes home for what turns out to be an extended stay—one that could either bring them closer together or tear them apart. With infinite grace and his peerless ear for dialogue, Lonergan offers something all too rare on-screen: beautifully flawed human beings whose journeys offer achingly relatable insight into what changes when you grow up—and what doesn’t.

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Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents You Can Count On Me with a fantastic 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer in its original 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of a 35mm Interpositive that has been supervised and approved by director Kenneth Lonergan. The film is also debuting on Blu-Ray using the same new master, which can be acquired in this package or individually. We always appreciate when a title jumps straight to 4K UHD from DVD, as there is no doubt you are getting a monumental leap in quality. Even without going back to the Original Camera Negative, this new restoration is spectacular. This transfer maintains the ideal amount of natural film grain which resolves consistently, unveiling a world of fine detail at every corner. Facets of the production design and clothing reveal more nuances than ever before. There are no signs of grain reduction or digital manipulation, as you get a lovely sheen that resolves evenly without swarming or clumping. Any potential print damage has been eradicated.

The new Dolby Vision transfer elegantly captures the natural look of the film as captured by director of photography Stephen Kazmierski. The aesthetic of the interior of the home contrasts with the vibrant, rural locale. Every situation and location appears to be accurately brought to life with this terrific new HDR grade. Moments of darkness and shadow retain their depth and do not fall to crush or noise. Highlights are handled with care to avoid any blooming as whites radiate with brilliance. One of the primary benefits of this 4K UHD experience is how the film perfects its contrast. The landscapes are visually appealing, but the film also provides notable colors in elements such as the lighting and some of the outfits and production design. This transfer is a knockout effort for fans of the film, and we appreciate that the Criterion Collection has given it a new life.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a remastered DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track which allows this one to exist in its premiere state. This is a Kenneth Lonergan film, which means that the dialogue is of paramount importance. Dramatic exchanges primarily stay anchored in the center channel with a clear intonation as they flow through. Even with this focus, there is an expansive soundscape that captures the sound design of the film with perfect fidelity. There is no threat of anything overshadowing vital information, and all threads maintain a proper balance so that dialogue comes through clearly.

Environmental sounds are brought to life with a gentle hand. The low end response brings some minor activity to the proceedings, although this is far from an action-packed narrative. The Lesley Barber score and other musical cues are used perfectly within the story, and this track delivers every element without faltering. There do not seem to be any tell-tale instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has given this film a necessary audio experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of You Can Count On Me includes a booklet featuring the essay “Trying To Take Care” by playwright Rebecca Gilman and the script of the original one-act play. Each of these provides valuable context to the movie. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Director Kenneth Lonergan provides an archival commentary track from 2001 in which he discusses the ideas behind the story, memories from the production, working with the performers, the look of the characters, how he tackles things differently from the stage, and more.

Kenneth Lonergan: A new 26-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses his background, why he felt he needed to direct, the impact of Martin Scorsese, how he expanded his one-act play, his history with the performers, giving personality to the minor characters, his aversion to improvising, and much more.

An Area We Ought To Explore – The Cast on You Can Count On Me: A new 28-minute interview with actors Matthew Broderick, Laura Linney, and Mark Ruffalo in which they discuss their early interest and entry into performing, where they were at during this point in their careers, working with Kenneth Lonergan, the joy of working with Rory Culkin, how this film impacted them, and more.

Trailer (2:23)

Final Thoughts

You Can Count On Me is the type of emotionally rich, humanistic experience that reminds you why film is such a powerful medium. Through Kenneth Lonergan’s empathetic lens, you wade through the interpersonal dynamics of this family that taps into an emotional truth that rings universal. The lead performances from Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo are some of the best of their respective careers, but the entire ensemble is putting forth magnificent work. This is the type of straightforward, powerful filmmaking that one searches for but finds too seldom. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a spectacular A/V presentation and a welcome array of special features. If you are a fan of emotional human dramas, this is a must-buy. Highly Recommended

The Criterion Collection edition of You Can Count On Me will be available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on July 22, 2025.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.