Sidewalks of New York

There's a rough-edged elegance in the way six characters pair off in Ed Burns's urban dramedy Sidewalks of New York. The film's release was delayed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but its observant perception of romance remains timelessly unaffected by the tragedy that struck New York after filming completed. As he did with The Brothers McMullen, Burns creates authentic characters who are likable despite their self-centered neediness and tenuous, often ill-fated connections. Even as Burns's focus on sex and fidelity grows redundant, he works wonders with his clutch of amorous New Yorkers, including a philandering husband (Stanley Tucci) whose affair with a young waitress (Brittany Murphy) leads his wife (Heather Graham) to consider romance with a real-estate client (Burns) who's been seeing the ex-wife (Rosario Dawson) of an aspiring musician (David Krumholtz) who in turn loves the waitress. Messy or neat, these liaisons have a charming appeal that lovers and would-be lovers will readily appreciate. --Jeff Shannon