Search - Chelsea Walls on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Profanity Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 08/06/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 50 mins Studio: Lions Gate Total Copies: 3 Genres: Drama, Urban Drama, Ensemble Film

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 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, All Movie Guide

Kevin Corrigan - Crutches
Rosario Dawson - Audrey
Vincent D'Onofrio - Frank
Kris Kristofferson - Bud
Robert Sean Leonard - Terry

Ethan Hawke directs and stars with real-life wife Uma Thurman in the drama Chelsea Walls. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, this transfer appears to be in only mediocre shape. The detail in the image is lacking, and a good amount of softness often penetrates the image. While some of the colors and black levels look sharp, overall this is a very middle-of-the-road effort from Lion's Gate. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround in English and fares about as well as the video portions of the disc. Fidelity and dynamic range are sorely lacking, though overall the dialogue, effects, and music are all free of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles. Fans will be happy to see a few extra features tacked on this disc -- included on this DVD is a commentary track by Ethan Hawke which features a lot of excitement from the actor as well as interesting stories on the production and history of the film, a deleted scene that allows the viewer to see what was left on the cutting room floor, a few minor cast interviews with Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, and a few theatrical trailers. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide