On the other hand, she's emotionally confused, and in the space of the film's running time we see her involved in no less than two ill-advised and potentially disastrous romantic liaisons. Linney demonstrates tremendous range, but does so without losing sight of the character she's playing. Too often, actors translate their roles into just a handful of convenient default demeanours. No less impressive is Ruffalo. Screw-ups and black sheep are a staple of the family drama, but Ruffalo ensures that Terry does not fall so easily into these categories.
Terry is a man who makes mistakes.
Sometimes he learns from them and sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes he makes up for them and sometimes he doesn't. One thing he isn't is a man who behaves according to type. Their relationship follows not a straight line but instead experiences any number of twists and turns, and is all the more satisfying because of it. And Culkin shows that, like older brother Kieran, he is capable of genuine acting and not just mawking for the camera.