Chelsea Walls (2001)

This film may not be the movie of the year, but it is indeed a beautiful piece of work by several great actors and actresses, with a wonderful soundtrack. A great movie about a legendary hotel.

There are many lines like the one above in this film. Ethan Hawke in his first work as a director has tried to capture the feeling of these modern beatniks who reside in the Chelsea Hotel in NYC and have chosen for themselves a way of life that is different than the kind of life our society would consider successful. These people aren't even artists, they're just artist wannabes. A little boy says it very clearly "It's hard to say who really is a poet these days". What makes them interesting and what they have in common is that they can't stand the modern world, their perspective on life and the belief that happiness is in simple things. There are several moments in this film that make that so clear. One of them is when Val tells Audrey (played brilliantly by Rosario Dawson) "We only have 43 dollars" and her answer is "We're just living Val. Lots of people do that.". While I was watching this film I was thinking of something I had heard in Charlie Kauffman's 'Adaptation'. "In real life nothing really happens" and I think that's exactly what Ethan Hawke's purpose is, to show us the life of some not so ordinary people who however have feelings and ordinary problems. Ethan Hawke has a wonderful script in his hands, but he fails to deliver and that's the most diappointing thing about this film. But other than that this film has so many beautiful poetic moments that it's worth watching. I understand though that if you never dreamed of this kind of life, if everything that you think matters is to make money in order to afford the comforts of modern life then this film will never appeal to you.

this movie is so beautiful...people are complaining about the"slowness" of the movie...but what poetry was ever read at thepace of most hollywood assembly line flicks? half philosophy and half poetry, this movie is the closest thing i'veever seen to the realities of an artist's mind. if you appreciated this movie, i reccommend Waking Life, which isjust as amazing in a slightly different way.

Ethan Hawke should really continue to direct, this debut film shows great promise. The outstanding cast is a credit to the trust they must have had in his talent. If your a Kris Kristofferson fan, you must see this performance, it's the best he's ever given. This film might not be for everyone, but it's a very well thought out work.