Ask The Dust [DVD]

I read a few reviews about this film that were scathing to say the least. One said it was as dull as dishwater, but that was an insult to dishwater. The omens were not good! But buoyed by the reputation of Robert Towne, the 70s screenwriting icon who wrote one of my favourite noir classics "Chinatown" and the off beat western "The Missouri Breaks", I convieniently forgot about the less than perfect "Mission Impossible" franchise and plunged in anyway. I was glad I did because it was not a bad film. Could have been better, but certainly deserved a wider release than it got, and subsequent obscurity. Now my pet hate is those awful Hollywood girly romances that truly want to make me throw up. The sort of films that my wife and daughters watch, whilst I tap away at my next pointless Amazon review in another room. I look in occasionally, get blanked and note that they have gone into some zen like Zombie world of their own, like when I am watching footie. Anyway to get back on track, this film is not like that. It was a romance I was actually able to watch to its conclusion, without being handcuffed to the sofa.

The film is set in 30s LA during the Great Depression. Colin Farrell plays a struggling young writer trying to hit the big time. Salma Hayek plays the Mexican waitress that he falls for, although he has an odd way of romancing her. He uses the old 'treat em mean, keep em kean' to full effect. He just keeps those old insults coming thick and fast, and amazingly does not get a punch in the eye for his trouble. Despite all love wins through, but as with even those soppy romances there are storm clouds on the horizon. Will they hit a big fat downpour, that is the question?

What I liked about this romance was the banter between Farrell and Hayek, none better than when the two first meet in the diner. If huaraches are ever mentioned to you afterwards, you will remember this scene if you are sad as me! The romance is feisty and fun. Farrell is nay too bad as Arturo Bandini the struggling Anglo/Italian writer who will happily racially insult Hayek on a whim. He has a liking for acting in arty farty sort of films, and is not in fact a bad actor all said and done. Hayek, who must be a contender with Penelope Cruz for being one of modern days most beautiful screen actresses is imperious as Camilla. The eye popping scenes of her frollicking in the surf are worth any admission fee for alone. Towne artfully weaves racial prejudice into a love affair that turns the conventional romance on its head. The bittersweet ending is actually quite moving, as Bandini's onion like exterior is finally peeled for the better. On the downside Towne does have a habit of using characters randomly in the film, which has the effect at times of making it seem a bit disjointed at times. Idina Menzel's unnecessary character is my main case in point. But this is certainly no reason to shoot the film down in flames as some critics did.

The film was a along time in gestation. Towne apparently first came across the book by John Fante, upon which Towne's screenplay was based in the 70s before he had achieved real fame. Perhaps Towne empathised with the struggling writer of the story at that time? Both Johnny Depp and Val Kilmer were once pencilled in for the lead role, but later dropped out. Salma Hayek decided to play the role 8 years after she originally turned it down. The film was made in South Africa for budgetary reasons, as so many modern day films are. Robert Towne is a man who knows LA inside out and is able to transfer this into a half decent on screen romance. It makes for an interesting film that is so much better than a lot of the junk that passes for film these days. The world will be a poorer place without the likes of Towne and John Milius. Thankfully they will both leave a strong legacy in their canon of films. A longer review than usual. Another case of literary diarrhoea I am afraid!

I recently read Fante's Ask the Dust and was keen to see how the film version would stand up. I was suprised by Farrells' ability to play the totured Bandini and I think he managed it extremely well. But then I've always preferred Farrell's more 'art-house' films (i.e. A Home At The End Of The World) and this film gives him an opportunity to display the acting talent that he has. Hayek is a great Camilla and although the film strays from the book for a slightly Hollywood ending, its worth the watching.

Ever since Frida, I have been waiting for Salma to come back and do a similar impressing movie and of course Salma pull this one off very well same goes for Collin Farrell. I don't think a lot of people really understand what they're seeing here. Never mind the source material; this is a glossy Hollywood melodrama in the vein of 'Some Come Running,' which is a good comparison, for that movie also dealt with the Artist Coming Into His Own and evolving into a more empathetic human being through a disastrous love story. I personally enjoyed it throughout. For me, the characters seemed real - people who were trying to be someone they were not, which fits with their environment.

Arturo and Camilla seemed to "fight" their love for each other, moment to moment alternately revealing or suppressing their prejudices. Take out the racial element and it reminded me a bit of Deanie and Bud in 'Splendor in the Grass', you almost expect them to burst into flames as they battle the demons that conspire to keep them apart. Just when they finally seem to find some peace with each other it all falls apart during the simple gesture of going on their "first" date. The passion between Atruro and Camillia is great and the love scenes are fantastic especially a flashback scene that takes place in the ocean. I was touched by Arturo's attempts to teach Camilla to read from one particular book (title of my review) and attain citizenship.

I was also impressed with the performances of Idina Menzel (especially the scene's with Atrturo mention by reviewer Damian) and Donald Sutherland (the latter a bit reminiscent of Sutherland's Homer Simpson in ("The Day of the Locust"). I was so glad to see Robert Towne's name in the credits again, I based my decision to see the film on my high regard for his work and that of Salma's as well. I find it ironic that Robert Towne, a product of the last golden age of cinema, would re-appear just as we seem to be having a 70's-like renaissance in independent film, just like the 70's/Vietnam era? The parallels are there.

`Ask the Dust' is what it is. If you don't like melodramatic tropes you won't like this, as the movie adheres to a lot of them: After this movie, watch the milk you put in your coffee.