RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Chelsea Walls
Chelsea Walls

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Chelsea Walls (2002)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
26 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:46

Fresh:12

Rotten:34

Average Rating:4.1/10

Consensus: The meandering Chelsea Walls is more pretentious than poetic.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Apr 19, 2002 Limited

Synopsis: The Chelsea Hotel echoes with loneliness, residents moving in and out, dreaming behind closed doors and searching for someone -- or something -- that got away. The Chelsea Hotel used to be grand,... The Chelsea Hotel echoes with loneliness, residents moving in and out, dreaming behind closed doors and searching for someone -- or something -- that got away. The Chelsea Hotel used to be grand, the place to live for New York City artists. Mark Twain, Thomas Wolfe, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix…they all passed through the hotel’s halls. Now, the iron façade has become rusty and the artists in residence are tarnished, too. Still, new dreamers come every day, hoping to be inspired by the ghosts of the past. Grace (Uma Thurman) and Audrey (Rosaria Dawson) are young poets, who constantly struggle with issues of art and love. Never learning from experience, they always seem to let the wrong men into their hearts. Grace should love Frank (Vincent D’Onofrio), an artist who respects and understands her. But she still responds to the siren call of the lover who went to Hollywood. Similarly, Audrey lets impenetrable Val (Mark Webber) back into her life, knowing he will go off with Crutches (Kevin Corrigan) to do something that could take him away from her forever. Down the hall, Bud (Kris Kristofferson) is a writer who faces more endings than beginnings. His pretends that his wife, Greta, (Tuesday Weld) and his mistress, Mary, (Natasha Richardson) are his muses. But his eight-hundred page book is really fueled by an endless supply of alcohol. A lion who is losing his roar, Bud is out of time. For every worn out writer, there are two new musicians who come to town. Ross (Steve Zahn) and Terry (Robert Sean Leonard) have just driven in from Minnesota, eager to experience the sights and sounds of the Chelsea Hotel. These new hotel residents, young and full of expectations, mingle with the old hotel ghosts, ultimately becoming interchangeable. They form a community, linked by their dreams, their isolation, and their pain. The Chelsea Hotel never really leaves the people who live there, nor do they ever really leave it. -- © 2002 Lions Gate Films [More]

Starring: Uma Thurman, Kris Kristofferson, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D'Onofrio

Starring: Uma Thurman, Kris Kristofferson, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Sean Leonard, Natasha Richardson, Mark Webber, Tuesday Weld, Steve Zahn, Kevin Corrigan, Frank Whaley, Guillermo Diaz, Paz de la Huerta

Director: Ethan Hawke

Director: Ethan Hawke
Screenwriter: Nicole Burdette
Producer: Gary Winick, Alexis Alexanian, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Aug 6, 2002

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Chelsea Walls

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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 Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
05/24/02
Erin Meister
Erin Meister
Boston Globe

A dreary, incoherent, self-indulgent mess of a movie in which a bunch of pompous windbags drone on inanely for two hours...a cacophony of pretentious, meaningless prattle.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
05/20/02
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
05/17/02
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The movie is essentially a series of fleetingly interesting actors' moments.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
05/17/02
John Hartl
John Hartl
Seattle Times

It is a film in which body language and unspoken human intercourse play a much more important role than dialogue.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
05/13/02
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

Reeks with phony posturing and lot of talking without really saying anything.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/10/02
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

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

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
05/10/02
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
05/10/02
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
05/09/02
Philip Wuntch
Philip Wuntch
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I liked this film a lot...

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
04/29/02
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
04/25/02
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As is most commonly case with projects such noble and lofty ambitions, the film is less poetic than simply pretentious.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
04/24/02
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
04/20/02
Hollywood.com

Chelsea Walls is a case of too many chefs fussing over too weak a recipe.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
04/20/02
Doris Toumarkine
Doris Toumarkine
Hollywood.com

There is a certain sense of experimentation and improvisation to this film that may not always work, but it is nevertheless compelling.

Full Review Source: Countingdown.com | comment Comment
04/19/02
Larry Carroll
Larry Carroll
Countingdown.com

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

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
04/19/02
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film at times transcends reality and becomes something special. It approaches art.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
04/19/02
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

This insufferable movie is meant to make you think about existential suffering. Instead, it'll only put you to sleep.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
04/19/02
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Citysearch

Like a bad improvisation exercise, the superficially written characters ramble on tediously about their lives, loves and the art they're struggling to create.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
04/19/02
Ed Scheid
Ed Scheid
Boxoffice Magazine

Hawke's lofty goal of painting the personalities of the poetry-spewing inhabitants gives ways to wannabe Beatnik meandering.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
04/19/02
E! Online
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 >> >|
See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington

A video interview with the Avatar star!

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Throwing fireballs with Nicolas Cage!

Critics Choice

Critics Choice

Inglourious Basterds storm the awards noms!

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

Inglourious Basterds & The Hangover

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Mila Kunis Talks Aronofsky's Black Swan Source: Collider.com
12
  • Visiting the Set of The Sorcerer's Apprentice Source: ComingSoon.net
7
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
93
  • James Cameron Talks Avatar Sequels Source: Collider.com
8
  • Natalie Portman Will Battle Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Source: Variety
36
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
12
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
45
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
36
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
33
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
63
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
235
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
81
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
68
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
36
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
31
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
31
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
29
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Chelsea Walls at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Chelsea Walls at IGN
  • Chelsea Walls at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.