Sidewalks of New York : Story


Sidewalks of New York is a movie about how we fall in and out of love in a city where thousands of people pass by each other every day, where strangers meet, where relationships come together and fall apart. The men and women of the story are driven by desire, searching for passion and identity. They love the game, the pursuit, and the surprise of seduction. They tease and flirt and give each other advice, coming up with wry speculations about the opposite sex.

Tommy (Edward Burns) grew up in Queens, a "bridge-and-tunnel" guy, who has made it as a Midtown success. He seems to have it all, but he wants stability, maybe even a family. After a break-up with his longtime girlfriend, Tommy is tentatively venturing back into the dating world. He is shown the ropes by his macho mentor…

Carpo (Dennis Farina), a seasoned seducer who takes great pride in having bedded over five hundred women. ("And that's just this year," he stresses) Always maintaining his tv host persona, slick Carpo sees sex as a contest, a way to prove his virility but it is not Tommy's nature to be so predatory. Sparring over the video store rental of the last remaining copy of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Tommy meets…

Maria (Rosario Dawson), a spirited Italian Puerto-Rican from Staten Island, now teaching at an upscale grammar school who is forced to laugh about how her students' allowances outstrip her monthly salary. Though intrigued by Tommy's charm, Maria keeps her guard up. She is still recovering from the disastrous end of a teenage marriage to…

Benjamin (David Krumholtz) a uniformed doorman and guitar-toting songwriter. Born in Brooklyn, Ben starts off seeking reunion with Maria, following her around with dogged persistence and infinite idealism. Soon, though, he transfers the full force of his puppy love affection to…

Ashley (Brittany Murphy), a sexy girl from Iowa, now a student and waitress in Greenwich Village. She warms to the way Ben worships her. Yet at nineteen, she has already locked herself up in a frustrating, part-time relationship with an older, married man…

Griffin (Stanley Tucci), an arrogant dentist who has risen from his Bronx roots to a place on Fifth Avenue. Casually manipulative, Griffin prides himself on his "European attitudes" towards love and marriage. He holds onto Ashley with claims that he will eventually leave his wife …

Annie (Heather Graham) a beautiful, stylish, born and bred Upper East Sider. She grows increasingly suspicious of her husband's distance and his mid-life crisis insecurity. When real-estate agent Annie meets Tommy, looking to buy a new loft, flirtation soon evolves into real conversation, and Annie starts to wonder -- is Tommy worth the risk?

Sidewalks of New York is the fourth feature film on which Burns has combined the roles of writer, director, actor and producer. With an accomplished ensemble cast and a veteran crew shooting at street smart speed, he has returned to the tone and texture of his debut picture, the award-winning The Brothers McMullen.

A Marlboro Road Gang Production, in association with Artists Production Group, Sidewalks of New York is written and directed by Edward Burns. Producers are Margot Bridger, Edward Burns, Cathy Schulman and Rick Yorn. Co-producers are Richard Patrick and Frank Prinzi. Associate Producers are Brian Burns and Aaron Lubin. Frank Prinzi is the Director of Photography. David Greenwald is the Editor. Costumes are designed by Catherine Thomas and casting is by Laura Rosenthal and Ali Farrell.

Author : © 2001 Paramount Classics.