Reviews (29) 
In Wake of Allen's Curse of Jade Scorpion...
Prior to seeing Woody Allen's worst movie, "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," I probably would have given Ed Burns's "Sidewalks of New York" a 4 star review because it was too derivative of Woody Allen's work. However, "Curse" showed that Allen is now past being able to make this kind of film and that someone new must step up to the writing, directing, acting helm of these gem-like, relationship slice-of-life films. Ed Burns fills that void very nicely indeed and it is a lot to ask, that someone be able to write, direct and act. Burns himself will never be a comic like Woody Allen but he is a more credible romantic leading man, being young, handsome and with attractive ways about him. This film takes a handful of New Yorkers and puts them into a variety of relationship quandries. Stanley Tucci portrays the least sympathetic as a dentist who suffers from chronic infidelity no matter to whom he is currently married. I was glad to see Brittany Murphy in another role after seeing her play the psychiatric patient to Michael Douglas's psychiatrist in last year's thriller. She is an actress to watch as she is quite different here as Tucci's girlfriend who starts angling towards a New York doorman on the side. Heather Graham does a Mia Farrow like role as Annie, who becomes the Burns the love interest, although it is nip and tuck with the Rosario Dawson biracial teacher with Burns first. There is a scene stealer in this movie though and that actor is Dennis Farina as the older man who counsels Burns on seducing women throughout. He is an absolute lounge lizard creep, a complete turnoff to women everywhere, but I was laughing out loud and holding my sides every time he was on camera. The scene of him lounging in his bubble bath, while counseling Burns to splash cologne on his privates to increase his "action," is emblazoned across my memory forever, I'm afraid! I fail to understand why anyone thought Burns should erase the twin towers from his film, our being able to see them in the background. Should we erase Gettysburg off the map too so we can pretend the Civil War never happened? Or the coast of Normandy to pretend World War II never was? The thinking behind this notion of eradicating history from appearing in our films, even as background, I find very disturbing.
Burns does it again.
If it wasn't clear before, it is now: Edward Burns is one of the best writer-director-actors to come along in a long time. Somewhat like Woody Allen, (a writer/director/actor who makes most of his films in New York)although Burns' films ring truer, and are in my opinion funnier.
"Sidewalks" is, like his other films, an honest look at everyday people and this thing we call love. The film is humourous, touching, and insightful. Although, since the movie is shot in documentary style, it makes it seem even more like a slice of life. With on-street interviews, jarring camera work and jump-cuts, the movie has the look of a PBS piece. But that's a good thing. The supporting cast is excellent, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Farina, Krumholz, Brittany Murphy (quite a lot of names for a small film) all nail their parts. This film is a must-see for fans of Burns and just fans of good movies.
LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!!!
I loved this movie! I've watched it over and over again! and now that I am going to buy the DVD, I'm going to watch it some more! it just reflects alot of real life situations...and some of them you simply relate to...
Vulnerabilities We All Face In Relationships
Edward Burns has made a very good film of the romantic comedy genre, about the complex lives of six New Yorker's whose lives intersect at some point during the movie. Filmed in a documentary style, one can't help but feel the spontaneity and good acting of the cast, made more intimate by the ambient New York setting. What I liked about the movie was the realism it depicted, and the vulnerablities and fears playing on the lives of people in relationships. This is the first movie of Edward Burns I have seen and I can't wait to see his other works of art. If you want to know more about relationships and the human condition, watch this film. Highly recommended.
great
okay let me start by saying i'm a huge Brittany Murphy fan and this has to be one of her best movies besides spun. I'm very impressed with many romantic comedies but i liked this so much that it's taken over the space where unconditional love used to sit.
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