Ask the Dust (2006)

Ask the Dust is a film based on the book of the same title by John Fante. It stars Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek together with Donald Sutherland and Idina Menzel.The movie was written and directed by Robert Towne.Arturo Bandini is a young writer who comes to Los Angeles during the Great Depression in order to write a novel. He is down to his last nickel and decides to spend it on coffee in a diner. He is served by Camilla, a Mexican beauty he is instantly attracted to even though he treats her horribly during their first interaction. Soon the pair is involved in a relationship that finds them sparring with each other at first, but slowly learning to trust each other. Bandini meets the acquaintance of a desperate woman who sees him as the most desirable man in the world. Eventually Arturo and Camilla get away from the city and their love deepens as he attempts to finish his novel.This is one of the better films ever made despite the way critics have despised it. The themes are all there and Colin Farrell together with costar Salma Hayek have rarely been so affecting, or so effective, as self-hating ethnics who find love.We simply do care for their characters.Although thinking is required to fully appreciate this film,watching it is definitely a rewarding experience.

This movie is one of the best i have ever seen. It has a lot of different stuff. A lot of feelings in it, and makes you sit in 20 minutes after it is done, thinking...Colin Farrell delivers a lot of talent, in this film. Salma Hayek i have always liked, and she really is worth gold in the film.I have only positive things to say about it, and i hope everyone else find it as pleasuring to watch as i did. And although it is not a horror movie, or a movie with a lot of killing and that sort of stuff,it is worth watching for ANYONE.My highest recommendations!

I don't know why most IMDb reviews tend to say every movie is garbage. Ask the Dust was not one of them. It is excellent! It is very funny at some parts and it has great performances from Salma, Colin and Idina above all. It is full of passion, spirit and logical things. The script is a very good one. Everything they said made sense and was very intelligent. I personally enjoyed very much the discussion scenes between Colin and Salma. They were awesome! This picture deserved much more support and more objective comments! The book might be better than the film, but still, this film is very romantic and passionate. It has those moments where human nature and romance comes into play, I love them. Salma and Colin fit for those roles perfectly. Anyone else suggesting other actors are ignorant fans of their own actors. Movie worth seeing. But if you are another IMDb critic, who doesn't know how to appreciate a good movie, then ...

This film is based on the novel by John Fante. Could someone please tell me why? I see absolutely no reason why this fine book should be adapted in this way. If you want to make a romantic melodramatic Hollywood production with Colin Farell and Selma Hayek, then how could you possibly make a connection to Ask The Dust (the novel)? -And if you wanted to make this story into a film, then why would you want to make it into a romantic melodramatic Hollywood production with Colin Farell and Selma Hayek? I don't get it.The adaptation of the story is poorly made, and if you have read the book and liked it, I'm almost sure you won't like what Towne did with it. In the beginning of the film you'll maybe find the casting odd, the acting bad and the cinematography just a bit overdone. But you hope for the best. I really hoped a lot during this film. I actually wanted it to be good. But it only gets worse, and it is as simple as that: Whether you read Fantes novel or not, this is not a good film. Just another romantic melodramatic Hollywood production combined with bad acting, lack of structure and - of course - plenty of shots of Colin Farells naked butt.I could complain a lot more about this film, but why waste my time. I've seen it. Alright. I had to see it, because I like the book so much and was curious. And I'm very disappointed.1/10 is for Colin's sweet little mustache in the end of the film. So sweet... Had he worn it the whole time through, I'd given it 2/10.