Monday, October 22, 2012

the Directors: Edward Burns


In August, as I wrapped my top 10 directors of all time, I decided to tag on Edward Burns as an honorable mention. I admitted upfront that his inclusion on that list may seem drastic, as there were so many more prominent and notable filmmakers left off, but if I’m being absolutely truthful, no director influences me more as a filmmaker than Edward Burns.

The man makes movies for that reason alone: to make movies. He isn’t worried about money or fame – he writes, produces, and stars in all of his films because that is the best way he can think to express himself. If that’s not inspiring, then I don’t really know what is.

Looking over his filmography, most of his body of work is made up of movies I typically wouldn’t enjoy. Yet I am taken with all of them. There are a few reasons for this, the primary one being: Edward Burns shows that anyone with talent and the drive to make it, can do just that.

The Brothers McMullen (1995)
Burns famously handed a VHS copy of his first film, an honest tale about three brothers struggling to keep their Long Island romances afloat, to Robert Redford in an elevator. Redford wasn’t miffed by this, as it did (and continues to) happen to him all the time. But for whatever reason, he said screw it, popped the VHS in, and was marveled by The Brothers McMullen. Redford placed the film in his Sundance Film Festival, where it won festival’s highest honor. And the rest, as they say, is history.

That paragraph wasn’t much in the way of film criticism, but let me just say, if it’s good enough for Redford, it’s good enough for me. Many continue to call The Brothers McMullen Burns’ best film to date. That’s a tough call. What it is, however, is an honest examination of contemporary love. There isn’t a single part of it that doesn’t work. And work well. A-

She’s the One (1996)
A few days after cab driver Mickey (Burns), hits it off with a fare he’s picked up (Maxine Bahns), they elect to secretly wed and ask questions later. This infuriates Mickey’s Wall Street yuppie of a brother, Francis (Mike McGlone), simply because Francis can’t stand to see his brother find true love so easily. So, like many of Burns’ best films, She’s the One is simply about the way love affects whatever male characters Burns has opted to bring to life.

This is easily one of my favorite Burns flicks, because, more so than McMullen, it nails the humor of love so expertly. Francis, for example, is such a wondrously repressed hard ass, the kind of guy who steps out on the wife who adores him (played by Jennifer Aniston) with a woman who continually emasculates him (that would be Cameron Diaz). As fine a film as Burns as has ever made. A

No Looking Back (1998)
Stepping into serious dramatics, No Looking Back is a slightly muddled dramedy about a small-town woman dreaming of bigger and better things. Claudia (Lauren Holly) wants something more. Although she appears to be happy with her loyal boyfriend, Michael (Jon Bon Jovi), her world is sent into a tailspin when her first love, Charlie (Burns) strolls back into town with no intention of leaving.

I’m probably one of the few people who thinks No Looking Back works so well. Sure, the film spends a little too much time focusing on the doomed relationship between Claudia and Michael, but at its core, No Looking Back is a movie made by a guy who clearly knows what heartbreak is. Frank and real, for better or worse. B+

Sidewalks of New York (2001)
Before this film, Burns’ work had hinted at his affection for Woody Allen’s films, but with Sidewalks of New York, he made all too clear that Allen is the man who most inspires him.

The movie is, essentially, a two-hour ode to Allen’s best comedic films. Opting for the raw style of Husbands and Wives, Sidewalks of New York has a handful of characters share their stories directly with the audience, in between moments of sincere voyeurism. People meet, break up, fall in love, reconnect, fall out, all for the sake of authentic New York love story(ies). Any fan of Woody Allen will appreciate Burns’ admitted amateurish approach to this material. As worthy an ode to Allen’s work as has ever been attempted. A-

Ash Wednesday (2002)
Probably the most plot driven of Burns’ films, Ash Wednesday is set in Hell’s Kitchen, 1983. Francis Sullivan (Edward Burns) is displeased by incessant rumors that his deceased younger brother, Sean (Elijah Wood), has somehow reappeared. Years earlier, Sean whacked a member of the Irish mob, and was swiftly taken out. If he has resurfaced, there are many gangsters who want in on Sean’s blood.

This being a Burns film, love conquers (or is at least the motivator for) all. Sean has indeed come back for his love, Grace (Rosario Dawson), and isn’t all too cautious about who knows. Honestly, it’s no coincidence that, because this is Burns’ most plot-heavy film, it is also one of his weakest. Good, certainly, but far from great. B-

Looking for Kitty (2004)
Another plot-dependent film, Looking for Kitty tells the story of a private detective hired to find a missing wife. Jack (Burns) is good at what he does, but with Abe’s flimsy story, the two are damn near incapable of tracking Abe’s fleeting wife down. Despite this, they cruise the streets of downtown Manhattan, watching and waiting for Kitty to appear.

Here’s the thing: Looking for Kitty contains one of Burns’ most realized characters in Jack. The movie spends a lot of time focusing on Jack’s inner torment – alone in his house, or pathetically asking his next-door neighbor for a night of comfort. Jack could quite easily sustain the film, but instead, Burns focuses on the not-nearly-as-interesting missing wife farce. Kind of a shame. C+

The Groomsmen (2006)
The boys are back in town as Paulie (Burns) plans to soon marry his pregnant girlfriend, Sue (Brittany Murphy). Set on City Island, New York, most every man in Paulie’s life functions as a plot device to articulate Paulie’s inner feelings. His brother, Jimbo, acts as the voice of refusal. Bar owner, Dez, is the antitheses, supplying the family-makes-it-worth-it confidence. While friends, T.C. and Mike, act as sit ins for Paulie’s compassion and angst, respectively.

For most any other film, those past few sentences would act as harsh criticism for a movie trying so hard to hide its obvious narrative “tricks.” But, somehow, Burns makes The Groomsmen work. It isn’t a movie you’re likely to remember years after seeing it, but it is a completely enjoyable hour and a half. No question. B

Purple Violets (2007)
Patti (Selma Blair) wants more. As she gets older, she feels that her marriage and job are holding her back from writing the good write. The reemergence of her first love, Brian (Patrick Wilson), only enhances Patti’s feelings of what could have been. She constantly shares her problems with her best friend, Kate (Debra Messing), who herself is upset that her old flame, Michael (Burns) has come back into her life.

So, Brian loves Patti and Michael loves Kate, while Patti confides in Kate and Michael confides in Brian. Really, I’m making it sound more complicated than it is, because Purple Violets  is nothing more than an earnest, four-character study of lost love. However, “nothing more,” in this case, acts as enough and then some. It should be noted that this film contains arguably my favorite ending to any Burns movie. It’s simply perfect. A-

Nice Guy Johnny (2010)
I always find it interesting when directors share which of their films is their personal favorite. Burns continues to hail Sidewalks of New York as the best film he’s made, with Nice Guy Johnny a close second. The interesting part is that I consider this film to be one of Burns’ less-inspired efforts, but hell, who am I to say?

In the film, Johnny Rizzo (played by Matt Bush) is days away from marrying the bitch of his dreams. The kind of gal who is hot, rich and demands that Johnny be the man she wants him to be. Upon visiting his Uncle Terry (Burns) in New York, Johnny is coerced into spending a weekend in the Hamptons with Terry and whatever lady friends happen to filter in and out, including young spitfire, Brooke (Kerry Bishé).

On the surface, Nice Guy Johnny is nothing more than a phoned-in romcom (with a perfect douchebag performance by Burns). Yet still, I find myself inexplicably drawn to it. B

Newlyweds (2011)
The evolution of Newlyweds is, at this point, about as noted as the success of The Brothers McMullen. Burns shot Newlyweds for $9,000 ($5,000 for actors, $2,000 for craft services, $2,000 for insurance) in his TriBeCa neighborhood with frequent collaborators. He filmed it with the consumer-grade Canon 5D Mark II camera, and, in my humble opinion, made as fine an independent romantic dramedy as we’ve had in the past decade.

Everything about the film, which chronicles the hardships a happily married couple face when a free-loading estranged sister comes into the mix, works faultlessly. Its tired narrative (Burns goes back to the Sidewalks of New York shtick) is marvelously given new life via Burns’ witty script, and the actors’ effortless conviction.

I love the hell out of Newlyweds. It’s smart, engrossing, and, in short, the finest film Burns has ever made. I recommend that you watch it by any means necessary. A

Doggy Bags (2012)
Doggy Bags is a short film Burns made and entered into the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival, simply because he could. In the flick, a young fella (Nice Guy Johnny star Matt Bush), becomes increasingly weary as to why the girl he’s dating (played by the hysterical Daniella Pineda, who Burns discovered on YouTube) insists on ordering shitloads of food (and getting some to go), whenever they dine out. The answer is simple and hilarious. Basically, Doggy Bags is a perfectly silly way to spend 14 minutes. B

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012)
Burns’ latest flick looks like something that belongs on the Lifetime network, and you know what… I’ll be the first in line.

In Summation
Masterful
Newlyweds

Great
The Brothers McMullen
She’s the One
Sidewalks of New York
Purple Violets

Good
No Looking Back
The Groomsmen
Nice Guy Johnny
Doggy Bags

Eh
Ash Wednesday
Looking for Kitty

Just Plain Bad
None

Previous Director Profiles include:

31 comments:

  1. I've never seen or even heard of any of these films (shame on me) would you recommend starting with Newlyweds?

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    1. I've never heard of these films either!

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    2. @Matt, it's all good that you haven't heard of them... at least you're willing to give some a shot! Okay, my to-go response for that question is start at the beginning. If you watched (in order): The Brother's McMullen, She's the One, Sidewalks of NY and Newlyweds, you'd be well versed in all things Burns.

      If you only have time for one, then, yeah, go Newlyweds. Enjoy!

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  2. Edward Burns is a guy a I appreciate and respect. Even as he is someone who is willing to do anything to have his films be shown.

    I haven't seen a lot of his work with the exception of The Brothers McMullen and She's the One where I really liked the latter for its humor.

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    1. I definitely respect him for the same reason, no doubt. She's the One is hilarious, isn't it? That's how real people talk. Love it.

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  3. I think I watched The Brothers McMullen many years ago. Was that the one where their mom goes back to Ireland, after her husband's death, to marry her real love? One brother's having an affair, and the others have their own relationship issues going on?

    Great post! I'll pick one of these movies and add it to my list.

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    1. That's the one! Love that movie. Hope you like the others you scout out!

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    2. I wasn't crazy about The Brothers McMullen, but I saw it so long ago, I don't remember why. I picked the titles She's the One, Purple Violets and Newlyweds for my "to see" list.

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    3. It's a very different kind of filmmaking. No tricks, no fanciness, just straight forward filming, which can turn some people off, I guess. Hope you like the three you picked out!

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  4. I had no idea Edward Burns directed movies. To be honest, I recognize him but never knew that was his name.

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    1. Yeah man, hell of a filmmaker. Does everything his own way, and on the cheap, and with class. I love his work.

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  5. Love this post. Newlyweds and She's the One get an A? That's awesome! Newlyweds is near the top of my Netflix queue, but I'll bump it (and She's the One) up to the top then.

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    1. Thanks! I hold both Newlyweds and She's the One in the highest regard. They are two flawless romantic dramedies that I fear will never get their fair share of credit.

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  6. So are Newlyweds and Sidewalks of New York his most Woody Allen-ish ones, then? I'll have to look into them first.

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    1. Oh yeah, definitely. Very Woody-worthy tributes.

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  7. I admire Burns for his approach to filmmaking, though I'm still not convinced about the movies I've seen. The most recent one I caught was Nice Guy Johnny, and my take is similar to yours. Its heart is in the right place, but it's very conventional. Burns' character is pretty grating too. Even so, I love the way he finances his movies on his own, and he's so prolific. I really need to check out a lot more of these.

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    1. It really is a tricky argument for me. Is Nice Guy Johnny a great film? No, it is not. Hell, it isn't even that good. But because of the way Burns handles himself (with continual class) and because of the way he makes his movies, I am an admitted fan. I've seen Nice Guy Johnny once, and that'll be enough.

      Either way, glad to hear you've seen a few of his flicks. If nothing else, he has an inspiring work ethic.

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  8. I've always been curious about this guy's work, but I had no idea he'd made so many films. It is really nice to hear about how he makes films - we need more people like that in the film industry.

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    1. I agree! More people like Burns would only make the independent movie scene better. I highly recommend Burns' films!

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  9. I agree, got to respect Burns writes, produces, and stars in all of his films, that's a lot of work. Have to give short film Doggybags a look.

    I loved She’s the One the first time I saw it, sadly in my case it didn't hold up a few years later on rewatch. Agree about Newlyweds is his strongest outing! I love the scene at the video store in Sidewalks of NY. Purple Violets I also enjoyed and want to see again, even though I think Burns made writing a novel sound like a a piece of cake. Thanks for the career examination!

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    1. My pleasure, glad to hear you're a Burns fan! I agree about Purple Violets' notion of making writing a novel look easy. Oh well though.

      Bummer She's the One didn't hold up for you, but that makes sense to me. It is a tad dated, I suppose. Newlyweds ruuuuules!

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  10. I saw his first few movies, but they seemed to be in a slight downward trend. I knew of his next few, but never got around to seeing them. I hadn't even heard of his last couple of films. My favorite among the ones I saw is She's the One.

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    1. He definitely had a hard time living up to Brothers McMullen and She's the One, but I honestly think Newlyweds is his best yet.

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  11. Well this is an interesting addition to your list, but I am not very surprised, I know you love Edward Burns. I admit I haven't seen any of his films, with maybe the exception of one, but I will try to hunt down some of them, they seem to have cool storylines!

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    1. Love Ed Burns I do. Dude does it his own way, studio systems be damned.

      If you're hunting, I think you'd like Newlyweds the best!

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  12. I think when I watched Purple Violets, I didn't realize that it was Burns who directed it (silly me). Newlyweds is definitely a great film! It was refreshing, modern and smart. I just love it. I need to see more of his films. Nice choice!

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    1. Thanks! Glad to hear you like some of his films. Newlyweds is just damn perfect.

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  13. I so love me Ed Burns, Alex. Love his love for NY and the atmosphere in his films, and he is so very pleasant to look at too :P

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    1. Haha. I love him too... one of my favorite filmmakers for sure. Glad you dig him!

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  14. Edward Burns easily makes my top five for active directors. These are exactly the kinds of movies I want to see. Believable plots. Dialogue that is just... right. The shots capture exactly what we need to see.

    Oh, and he makes and markets these gems on his own terms too. Brilliant!

    I pretty much agree with your ratings. Personally, I'd swap Purple Violets (the first lines on the manuscript at the end kill me every time) and Newlyweds, but that's splitting hairs between two really strong films, and I'm with you on the rest. Even the "worst" ones still have some interesting elements.

    One you didn't mention was The Lynch Pin. It's a cool web series, very different from Burns' other work. It's on youtube (legally). Check it out.

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    1. I think it's so cool that you discovered this blog via our equal admiration for Edward Burns. Any Burns fan is a friend of mine, no doubt.

      That final scene in Purple Violets is just damn perfect, isn't it? I was really floored the first time I saw that.

      I actually have seen The Lynch Pin, but I usually reserve these directors posts for feature films only. I used to hunt down EVERYTHING a director had done (shorts, TV shows, web series) but it just got to be to exhausting. But either way, love Lynch Pin!

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