SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK
Released: November 21, 2001
I suppose Edward Burns is this generation's Woody Allen - only less geeky looking and younger - though no less screwed up when it comes to relationships. Burns does two types of movies - commercial and indie styled. In his best commercial flick "Saving Private Ryan" he supported a solid cast. In his worst commercial offering "15 Minutes" we see Burns play Robert DeNiro's lacky in a highly unmemorable movie. Thankfully Burns' commercial side has its indie cousin that helps save him from falling into Hollywood's garbage disposal. In his lesser indie styled offerings like "She's The One" we still get some interesting scenes mixed in to the script. However, when Burns is in top form, as he is here with "Sidewalks Of New York", we are given an large cast which he stars among and directs - and it was actually quite entertaining. Granted, the characters here face situations in overdrive and are never subtle, it all helps to drive home the point, which must be that people still haven't figured out relationships. Like his ensemble cast in "Saving Private Ryan", Burns appears with but never outstays his welcome. This is key because it gives his wonderful cast room to shine. Burns plays a TV show producer interested in a girl he meets at a video store (Rosario Dawson) while at the same time flirting with the married real estate agent (Heather Graham) he's hired to find a new place to live. Her husband is the cheating Stanley Tucci, thinking he's clever enough to cover up his relationship with the bubbly teenager (Brittany Murphy) he picked up in Central Park. It's a pretty varied bunch and how much you'll like these people is based on your own age and experiences. Some of the funniest scenes belong to Dennis Farina ("Get Shorty") and the whole cast really gets to showcase just how good they can act - especially Graham, Dawson ("Josie And The Pussycats") and the rising star Murphy who wowed me in both "Don't Say A Word" and "Riding in Cars With Boys". You'll enjoy this movie more if you're already a Burns supporter but even if you're not it's still worth investing your time in just for the great acting and scenes with Farina.
107 Minutes
Paramount Classics