Chelsea Walls poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Kevin Corrigan, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Sean Leonard ... see more see more... , Natasha Richardson , Uma Thurman , Mark Webber , Tuesday Weld , Frank Whaley , Steve Zahn , Jimmy Scott , John Seitz , Harris Yulin , Marisa Tomei , Christopher Walken , Guillermo Díaz , Matthew Del Negro

Actor Ethan Hawke takes the director's chair for a test drive with this independent feature, based on a play by Nicole Burdette, in which a number of creative types living in New York's famed bohemian... read more read more... enclave the Chelsea Hotel struggle with their muses as well as their personal concerns. Middle-aged novelist Bud (Kris Kristofferson) is having problems with his latest project, as well as his appetite for alcohol, while he juggles two relationships -- with his wife Greta (Tuesday Weld) and his lover Mary (Natasha Richardson). Audrey (Rosario Dawson) is a poet who is attracted to Val (Mark Webber), but Val has a hard time staying away from drugs, and his pal Crutches (Kevin Corrigan) is doing nothing to help. Grace (Uma Thurman) is trying to make a name for herself as a poet, but in the meantime she supports herself waiting tables; she's developed a crush on her neighbor Frank (Vincent D'Onofrio), but she can't figure out how to get him to pay attention to her. And Ross (Steve Zahn) and Terry (Robert Sean Leonard) are a pair of would-be rock stars who have just arrived in New York from the Midwest, wondering how to get noticed as they try to pick up women. Jeff Tweedy from the acclaimed rock band Wilco composed the film's musical score, while legendary jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott appears in a nightclub scene. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

41% liked it

1,500 ratings

Critics

26% liked it

47 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Ethan Hawke

Release Date: September 21, 2001

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 6, 2002

Stats: 83 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Chelsea Walls
Upload a Photo | View All Chelsea Walls Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (83)

  • michaelcorleone
    January 10, 2009
    michaelcorleone
    Ethan Hawke's passionate directorial debut paints a mosaic of love, dreams, regrets and plenty of other things that we all experience as people. Hawke's unorthodox approach not only to storytelling, but also to film as a narrative medium, is refreshing and suitably out of the box... read more. Aiding the effectiveness of this unique picture's beauty is a highly talented and convincing cast of actors. This is not a film that everyone will enjoy, but it's something I loved watching and it definitely appealed to me on a personal level.
  • danieljparsons
    April 29, 2007
    danieljparsons
    I want to contradict myself by accident, and for you to know what I mean...

    This film, which really isn't a movie as such, more a feeling of mood with snatches of conversation, is definitely going to be something of an acquired taste. Directed by Ethan Hawke, the film s

    ... read morehifts focus between the various occupants of the Chelsea Hotel in New York (which in the past has been inhabited by various famous poets, authors and artists, from Tennessee Williams to Bob Dylan). There's very little in the way of narrative or story, we just catch glimpses of peoples feelings, thoughts, hopes and doubts. There isn't a sudden understanding at the end of the film, and the various peoples lives don't suddenly connect or clash.

    The way it's filmed stops everything from feeling pretentious, or too much like a vanity project (which it undoubtedly is). In fact the way it's filmed (on digital video) - the dreamy, 'hypnoticness' of it - was what sucked me in and made me feel a part of it. The photography from Tom Richmond is beautiful in places.

    Ethan Hawke has managed to assemble a sprawling cast, some of whom are very talented indeed, presumably all working for scale. Among them are Vincent D'Onofrio, Rosario Dawson, Steve Zahn and Uma Thurman, but the two best performances come from Robert Sean Leonard and Kris Kristofferson.

    I watched this late at night when I was slightly sleepy, which is probably the best way to see this film. Cautiously recommended.

View All Chelsea Walls Reviews

Critic Reviews

July 20, 2002
Chicago Tribune

It is dead on the inside, never quite achieving the movements and emotional solidity the material demands. Full Review

Steven Rea
June 13, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Hawke's actors are a talented troupe, and even when things get self-indulgent and fuzzy-headed (and boy, do they!), interesting stuff is going on.

Roger Ebert
June 7, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Movies like this do not grab you by the throat. You have to be receptive. Full Review

Erin Meister
May 24, 2002
Erin Meister, Boston Globe

Were Dylan Thomas alive to witness first-time director Ethan Hawke's strained Chelsea Walls, he might have been tempted to change his landmark poem to, 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Theatre.' Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 10, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Hampered -- no, paralyzed -- by a self-indulgent script ... that aims for poetry and ends up sounding like satire. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
May 9, 2002
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

The cinematic equivalent of patronizing a bar favored by pretentious, untalented artistes who enjoy moaning about their cruel fate. Full Review

Richard Roeper
April 29, 2002
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I liked this film a lot... Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
April 25, 2002
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

I'm not suggesting that you actually see it, unless you're the kind of person who has seen every Wim Wenders film of the '70s. Full Review

Jan Stuart
April 19, 2002
Jan Stuart, Newsday

Like the Chelsea's denizens ... Burdette's collage-form scenario tends to over-romanticize the spiritual desolation of the struggling artiste. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
April 19, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Hawke draws out the best from his large cast in beautifully articulated portrayals that are subtle and so expressive they can sustain the poetic flights in Burdette's dialogue. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Tape
    Tape (100%)
  • The Hottest State
    The Hottest State (100%)
  • Bark!
    Bark! (0%)

More Movies like Chelsea Walls

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Chelsea Walls : Watch Free on TV

Chelsea Walls Trivia

  • What actress plays in the following movies: the avengers, les miserables, chelsea walls and kill bill?  Answer »
  • Uma Thurman appeared in three films ('Gattaca', 'Tape' and 'Chelsea Walls') with which actor, who formerly happened to be her husband?   Answer »
  • Uma Thurman appeared in three films ('Gattaca', 'Tape' and 'Chelsea Walls') with which actor, who formerly happened to be her husband?  Answer »
  • Uma Thurman appeared in three films ('Gattaca', 'Tape' and 'Chelsea Walls') with which actor, who formerly happened to be her husband?   Answer »
More Chelsea Walls Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Chelsea Walls. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Chelsea Walls to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?