When the Oscar nominations were announced the name Laura Linney in the Best Actress category raised several eyebrows.

Cynics argued she'd only been included so that the judges could say they'd not overlooked any independent productions this year.

That would be too harsh. She didn't win but her nomination was fully deserved.

Laura Linney's character Sammy Prescott is pivotal to You Can Count On Me.

I told you I'm not going to appear with any of the Culkin family

Prior to the return home of her drifter brother, hers is an orderly life, living in a small community, bringing up her son alone and holding down a steady job in the local bank.

Her life starts to change when the bank employs a new manager (Matthew Broderick). He doesn't turn a blind eye to Sammy's erratic timekeeping.

When her brother Terry (Ruffalo) comes home he's given the task of ensuring her son Rudy (Rory Culkin - and yes, it is Macaulay's younger brother) gets home from school safely.

That's not always the case and Sammy can't believe it when young Rudy is introduced to some late-night pool hustling by her dodgy brother.

This is a gentle film which only covers a few weeks in the lives of the main protagonists.

In that time they get up to quite a lot. Sammy has a fling with her boss, young Rudy is introduced to his long lost (and uncaring) father and Terry gets to seriously reflect on his "couldn't care less" lifestyle.

We'll I don't want to act with Macaulay either

It's especially good at showing how easily the characters can change. Terry has always been the user, but as soon as Sammy sees the chance to use him as a baby-sitter, it becomes a liberating experience.

You end up realising nice girl Sammy is a hypocritical as the rest of them.

Good performances all around although it takes a while to get into Ruffalo's drugged up, laid back style of dialogue.

If you want something different from the sex/action/comedy films doing the rounds at the moment, You Can Count On Me is highly recommended.