Watch Chelsea Walls

Chelsea Walls is a drama film from 2001 directed by actor Ethan Hawke. The movie takes place in the infamous Chelsea Hotel, the bohemian enclave that was home to artists, musicians, and writers, including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Allen Ginsberg. The film follows the lives of several characters who live in the hotel and their struggles with love, creativity, and identity.

The ensemble cast features several talented actors, including Vincent D'Onofrio, Uma Thurman, Rosario Dawson, and Paz de la Huerta. D'Onofrio plays Bud, an ex-con who works as a porter at the hotel and is trying to make a living as a painter. De la Huerta plays Mary, an aspiring actress who struggles with her addiction to drugs and alcohol. Bianca Hunter plays Grace, a singer who comes to the hotel to seek inspiration for her music.

The film is divided into different vignettes, each focusing on a different character or group of characters. The camera follows the characters as they move around the hotel, interacting with one another, and revealing their unique stories. The characters' lives are intertwined, and each story feeds into the larger narrative of the hotel.

The film captures the essence of the Chelsea Hotel, with its quirky personalities and bohemian charm. The hotel itself becomes a character in the film, with its labyrinthine hallways, peeling wallpaper, and musty smell. The walls of the hotel are covered with layers of paint, graffiti, and memories. The setting creates an atmosphere of nostalgia and melancholy, as the hotel is facing its eventual demise.

The film explores several themes, including love, loss, and the creative process. The characters are all struggling to create, with their art becoming a way to cope with their pain and existential crises. The characters' relationships are often fraught with tension, as they struggle to connect with one another and themselves.

Chelsea Walls is a visually stunning film, with beautiful cinematography and a haunting score. The film was shot on location at the Chelsea Hotel, and the filmmakers took great care to capture the hotel's unique aesthetic. The camera often lingers on small details, such as a broken bottle, a cigarette butt, or a peeling piece of wallpaper, creating a sense of intimacy and realism.

While the film has received mixed reviews, it remains a touching tribute to the Chelsea Hotel and the artists who lived there. The film captures the spirit of the hotel, with its mix of beauty, decay, and creativity. The film serves as a reminder of the power of art to transform, heal, and connect us to one another.

Chelsea Walls is a 2001 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8 and a MetaScore of 34.