Ask the Dust (2006)

i must have seen a different film!!

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Ask the Dust is an entirely unremarkable film. But while there may be nothing spectacular about it in the end it is a reasonably entertaining film. Not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination but there are much worse ways to spend two hours.The film is set in Depression era Los Angeles and the attention to period detail is exceptional, 1930s L.A. brought brilliantly to life. Colin Farrell plays writer Arturo Bandini who is struggling to find inspiration that will allow him to sell some stories for some desperately needed cash. He also struggles with the prejudice he faces due to his Italian heritage. But while Italians may be looked down upon in this time and place they certainly have it better than the Mexicans. Enter Salma Hayek, playing Camilla, a waitress whose goal is to improve her standing in life by marrying a wealthy white man. But maybe just any white man will do if it allows her to become a citizen. Anyhow, Arturo and Camilla meet and although they seem to be an obvious mismatch they inevitably fall for one another. And so off we go, following this relationship which at first is rather awkward but as it evolves...well, actually it's still pretty awkward. Having to deal with prejudices, both those of outsiders and their own, was always going to make this relationship a difficult one. But the pair make it work. More or less. As you watch the two live out their cycle of coming together and drifting apart and coming together again you get the sense the film is at times just standing in place and not really moving forward. The story does drag at times but in the end it works. Barely works perhaps but it does work.Probably the best thing the movie has to offer is its stunning cinematography and period detail. But nice visuals are never enough in a film, you need the story to go with it. And the story here is passable, which is about the best that can be said for it. It never really grabs you but the movie does just enough to hold your interest. Farrell and Hayek are fine in their roles, with Hayek certainly having the Mexican spitfire role down pat by now. Donald Sutherland and Idina Menzel portray a couple of rather unique characters and do a good job with them but those roles are little more than extended cameos. For the most part this film is left to Farrell and Hayek to carry. And they do the best they can with a story which, while certainly not riveting, is interesting. In the end Ask the Dust is a reasonably decent way to spend two hours. You've seen a lot better. You've also seen a lot worse.

This movie worked very well for me. The Performances of Farrell as Bandini and Salma Hayek were very strong with the Irishman giving one of his best performances as the bullish and cocky yet vulnerable writer. I've always been impressed with Hayek from seeing her first in Desperado and she does not disappoint in this. She exudes a great sexuality but with a playful quality that holds a viewers attention throughout. She makes you believe in her Camilla Lopez.Towne has given a great feel to his film with an exceptionally constructed Set of thirties Los Angeles and some beautifully put together and lit scenes and an accurate wardrobe of the time. Save for the slightly obvious ending the film plays out well and with enough of a message inside it but nothing that slides the actors off into tedium, boredom or repetition. I have to say also, that the movie was better with a second viewing and I was really rooting for Arturo and Camilla to find exactly what they were looking for. Overall I recommend Ask the Dust as well crafted and underrated piece.

Although this film started slow, as a love story it was alright. As an adaption of the Fante novel I would give the film a 5.0.I think DiCaprio would have played a better Bandini. Maybe it was just my impression of the character when reading the book, but I didn't see him as how Farrell portrayed him, laid back. I saw the great Bandini as full of passion, which Ferrell did not seem to have in this film -- or for the role of Alexandre for that matter. And how old is Farrell? Not 21 -- so maybe a younger actor would have been a better choice. Hayek did well, she is a natural beauty and played the Camilla character they way I imagined her, with strength, charm and humility.I liked the LA scenery very much, the feel, the sand grains "from the Mojave" brought Ask The Dust alive, although -- and I've never seen 1939 LA -- the set did seem kind of sparse.One thing I did not like too much was the script, using as a base of comparison the novel. It too seemed to lack a certain flare, charm or passion.To sum up my impression of the film as an adaptation was Sutherland as Hellfrick. He did it very well and had whatever was lacking -- which, however, from his small part was not enough to compensate for the rest.I say if you're looking for entertainment, read the book; if you're looking for a love story, rent something else. If you've read the book, watch it and decide for yourself.

i prefer to write my comment about this movie as a poetry:"give me one more chance,to tell you that i don't wont anyone else but you. give me one more chance to tell you,that every thought of mine is about you.give me one more chance to touch your gentle soul.stay .or leave.but ask the dust for the unsaid words.ask the dust for the dissipated days.ask the dust for lost loves,and ask the dust for the missed days."about the story:he is an Italian,she is a Mexican.both they are foreigners in weird country,where to be "other"is not an appropriate thing. why we people are so cold?may we didn't know,that only dust remains after all of us!we are all made from dust &all go back there.sooner or later.