Chelsea Walls (2001)

This movie tells five stories set in a single day at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, involving an ensemble cast of some 30-35 characters.

Director:

Ethan Hawke

Writers:

Nicole Burdette (play), Nicole Burdette,

Stars:

Bianca Hunter, Kevin Corrigan, Paz de la Huerta

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bianca Hunter	...	Lorna Doone
Kevin Corrigan	...	Crutches
Rosario Dawson	...	Audrey
Matthew Del Negro	...	Rookie Cop
Paz de la Huerta	...	Girl (as Paz De La Huerta)
Guillermo Díaz	...	Kid
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Frank
Paul D. Failla	...	Cop (as Paul Failla)
Kris Kristofferson	...	Bud
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Terry Olsen
Duane McLaughlin	...	Wall
Natasha Richardson	...	Mary
Jimmy Scott	...	Skinny Bones
John Seitz	...	Dean
Mark Strand	...	Journalist

Storyline

In New York's storied Chelsea Hotel, a novelist, a dancer, a painter, a poet, an aged jazz singer, and a young troubadour sort out their personal and artistic lives within walls haunted by the likes of Dylan Thomas, O. Henry, and Sarah Bernhardt. A boozy novelist balances wife, mistress, and stories. A dancer who's a waitress in the basement club chooses between a Hollywood jerk and a local painter. A youth from Minnesota who composes and sings may be the next Bob Dylan. A poet decides to give her feckless boyfriend another chance, even as her eyes tell us she knows what's ahead. An old jazz artist wants to place a bet and share his love for Lady Day. These walls do seem to talk.

---

Plot Keywords:

hotel | dancer | painter | poet | novelist | 

---

Taglines:

a million stories tall

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Last Word on Paradise

Filming Locations:

Chelsea Hotel - 222 West 23rd Street, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,003 (USA) (19 April 2002)

Gross:

$59,675 (USA) (14 June 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chelsea Walls Inc., IFC Productions, InDigEnt (Independent Digital Entertainment)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Ross: You're Bob Dylan? By any chance can I kiss your boot?
Terry Olsen: Fuck off.
Ross: Hey! You're from Minnesota, aren't ya? You must be him! Huh?
Terry Olsen: Seriously dude, fuck off.
Ross: Bob! Bob! Bob! Bob! Hey, listen to this, you're not going to believe this, man. I am down in the lobby, right? Right?
Terry Olsen: Yeah?
Ross: There's this guy, puttin' up a paintin'. So, I'm like, helpin' 'em with the ladder and shit. He tells me, he lives here, in a room just like this one... but he's got it all for free. Yup, all he's gotta do is give a paintin'...
[...]

---

Connections

Version of Under Milk Wood (1992)

---

Soundtracks

"Jealous Guy"
(1971)
Written by John Lennon
Performed by Jimmy Scott, Mike Kanan, Hill Greene, Victor Jones,
Jay Bennett, John Stirratt and Ken Coomer

User Reviews

Fantastulous!

All these characters have problems. But i think that is the point. Because the movie is mostly supposed to be about the hotel itself. The people in it are just passing through. The film is showing how the people change, but ideals stay the same. The ideals that the hotel was built on and for the first place. Is it creativity? Or madness? Or apathy? I like all the open spaces in this story. You can fill in whatever you want. It's the sort of spirit of the Chelsea Hotel of old. But most people these days probably won't get it. Or don't want to. Or can't. Nobody dreams about art anymore. Everybody wants a million bucks. Who's life is richer?