SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK
US, 2001, 108 minutes, Colour.
Edward Burns, Rosario Dawson, David Krumholtz, Brittany Murphy, Stanley Tucci, Heather Graham, Michael Leyden, Dennis Farina, Aida Turturro.
Directed by Edward Burns.
Sidewalks of New York was written and directed by Edward Burns who made an impact in the mid-1990s with his film The Brothers Mc Mullen, following it with a number of significant New York comic dramas – which many said echoed the films of Woody Allen, though in a working class milieu.
This film was made in 17 days with a script but, it would seem, with some improvisation. It is the story of six central characters who are gradually revealed to be interlinked. the device is for them to talk to camera, talk about their sexual behaviour, partners, first time, understanding of love, sexuality, marriage, commitment – and the audience either identifying with them – or not – observing their behaviour but also their changing attitudes throughout the film.
Edward Burns himself plays Tommy, a television producer, whose partner walks out on him, he wanting children. He encounters Maria, Rosario Dawson, in a video store with a clash but follow-up with meetings – she having been married to Ben, David Krumholtz, a doorman who plays in a band. Ben is attracted to Ashley who works as a waitress in the cafe but she is in a relationship with a married man, Griffin, played by Stanley Tucci who, in turn, is married to Heather Graham – who is an estate agent who helps Tommy to find an apartment.
Each of the characters plays the part very well, especially Stanley Tucci who is almost 100% obnoxious as the married man with match a chauvinist morals and treatment of his wife. These sentiments are echoed by the brash television personality played by Dennis Farina.
An interesting, if light, observation on sexual mores at the end of the 20th century, beginning of the 21st century.
1. The title? The New York story? The focus on the sidewalks and the interviews taking place there? Ordinary New York – and not a focus on the famous landmarks?
2. The different worlds of New York City, the world of television, of teaching in schools, of the dentist, cafes and work, the doormen at the apartment block, the world of rock bands, real estate agents? The cumulative effect of the impact of these worlds?
3. The variety of locations, interiors and exteriors, real? Apartments, hotels, cafes, television station and make-up room, dentist surgery? The musical score?
4. The style, the interviews, the actors talking to camera, script and improvising, these interviews interspersed throughout the film? Establishing the characters, their beliefs, values, moral perspective, sex and love, commitment, betrayal, deception? The interviews being interspersed and the cumulative effect of growth and change?
5. The different reactions to talk about the sexual encounters, about numbers of partners, about sex, love and intimacy?
6. The insight for audiences, identifying with the characters or not, emotional response, moral response, judging?
7. The world of Tommy, his partner, the clashes with her at home, her not wanting children, her being upset, ousting him, his discussing the situation with the television star, the scene in the make-up room and the star and his callow advice and the reaction of the make-up lady? Going to the video store, the encounter with Maria, his keeping the video, the bargaining in the street, going to have the coffee, her not phoning him, the second meeting, the decision to go out, the discussions, their life stories, at the shop again, staying the night, its effect, the second night, her pregnancy? Tommy not knowing, Maria coming to see him, her concealing the truth? His wanting a new apartment, the meetings with Annie, the viewings, her initial buttoned up approach, the gradual change, her liking him, the phone call about the new apartment, his saying he did not need one, her friend ringing him and making the date?
8. Maria, Ben and his visit, the divorce, his infidelity, his coming to visit, her ousting him? Her teaching, liking the children, her friend at school, the discussions, the bluntness of her friend’s advice? The experience of Tommy, the video store, wanting the video, bargaining in the street? The later meetings, the coffee, then her not ringing, continued discussions with the teacher? The night, her reaction, the second night, her pregnancy? Discussion with the doctor? going to see Tommy, not telling him what had happened? His seeming indifference? Her decision to move on, that she had the child and could love it?
9. Ben, his age and inexperience, marrying Maria, his macho attitudes about partners, betrayal? Yet not wanting to be divorced, not accepting it? His playing in the band, his instrument, his meeting with his friend in the cafe, their discussions? His being a doorman and seeing him at work? The encounter with Ashley, flirting with her, her reaction, initial indifference, his perseverance, their outings together, her attitude towards sex, the chance meeting with Griffin, his criticisms of Griffin? His continued attempts with Maria, wanting the keys, the encounter with Tommy? Ashley breaking off with them? His weeping at the door of the apartment block? Reunited with Ashley, his happiness?
10. Ashley, young, from Iowa, in New York, her relationships with men even at a young age, taking up with Griffin, the affair, the passion between them? Her wanting him to divorce his wife? His refusal? Her challenging him, going out – and the chance of Ben passing their table? The telling of the truth to Griffin and his being upset? The discussions about his penis and later talking with his wife? Breaking off with him, his continued pursuit, the flowers? In the hotel room, her walking out? The attraction of Ben, the initial flirting, putting him off, going out, the sexual relationship, the conflict with Griffin, cutting them both off, Ben and his sadness, the reconciliation?
11. Griffin, age, experience, his explanations of himself, his first wife and cheating, his second wife and not wanting a divorce because of the humiliation? The initial love for his wife, losing the love? His macho attitudes in terms of partners and infidelity? His work as a dentist, his assistant and her reactions? His boss and giving advice? The times with Ashley, the hotel rooms? His refusing a divorce? The incident of meeting Ben, his jealousy in the discussion about penis size? At home, his lies to Annie, his claims to being a good husband, the outings with Harry and Hillary, the discussions about relationships and infidelity? Harry and Hillary deciding that they would get marriage counselling? His asking about this? Annie and her continued frustration, his continued lies, her confronting him, wanting a divorce and walking out? His evening with the prostitute and her not wanting to stay and talk?
12. Annie, her background, the Catholic touch, strict, her first marriage, failure? Her love for Griffin, six years together, her needing affection and intimacy, his not giving her attention, her reactions? The discussions with Hillary? Suspicions of the affair, the cologne? His late nights, the gym and excuses? Her feeling abandoned? The decision to confront Griffin, leave him, her sense of exhilaration? Her work as an estate agent, showing Tommy the apartments, rather silent, beginning to talk with him, the phone call and his saying he needed no apartment, Hillary and the phone call making the date?
13. Harry and Hillary, the marriage, infidelities, the talk at the table, the decision to have counselling? Hillary and her advice for Annie?
14. The musician, hair, beard, his piercings, music, at the cafe, discussions with Ben? His interviews to camera?
15. How did each of the characters change – or not change?
