IMDb > Ask the Dust (2006)
Ask the Dust
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Ask the Dust (2006) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) Videos (see all 9)
Ask the Dust (2006) -- Mexican beauty Camilla hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini, a first-generation Italian hoping to land a writing career and a blue-eyed blonde on his arm.
Ask the Dust (2006) -- Mexican beauty Camilla hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini, a first-generation Italian hoping to land a writing career and a blue-eyed blonde on his arm.
Ask the Dust (2006) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   4,153 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Towne
Writers (WGA):
Robert Towne (screenplay)
John Fante (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ask the Dust on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 April 2006 (Thailand) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Passion and ambition drive two dreamers in 1930s LA. Their love affair is ferocious and hot-blooded as they fight the city and themselves to make their dreams come true.
Plot:
Mexican beauty Camilla hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini, a first-generation Italian hoping to land a writing career and a blue-eyed blonde on his arm. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Farrell: 'I danced naked for Hayek'
 (From digitalspy. 17 October 2008, 11:02 PM, PDT)
Farrell's Naked Dance For Hayek
 (From WENN. 17 October 2008, 12:11 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Frustrating more (66 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Colin Farrell ... Arturo Bandini

Salma Hayek ... Camilla

Donald Sutherland ... Hellfrick
Eileen Atkins ... Mrs. Hargraves

Idina Menzel ... Vera Rivkin

Justin Kirk ... Sammy

Jeremy Crutchley ... Solomon
Ronald France ... Columbia Sweeper

Dion Basco ... Filipino Houseboy
Donna Mosley ... Red Headed Girl
Paul Rylander ... Harold the Bartender
Natasha Staples ... Denver Librarian
Wayne Harrison ... Heilman
Yasuhiro Yoshimura ... Japanese Vegetable Man (as Yoshimura Yasuhiro)
Sid ... Willie the Dog
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R or some sexuality, nudity and language.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
117 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | DTS
Certification:
Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:R21 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (certificate #41719) | Netherlands:AL | Germany:12 | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Cape Town, South Africa more
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Writer/director Robert Towne became interested in the project when he met John Fante, the author of the novel, while doing research for Chinatown (1974). more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In the beach scene, before sunset, the ocean is on the left, and the shadows are stretching towards the camera. This cannot happen in L.A., where the ocean is in the west and sun is in the south. This reveals that these shots were taken on South Africa's west coast, where the sun is north of the zenith. more
Quotes:
Arturo Bandini: Take a look in the mirror.
Camilla: I don't want to look in the mirror.
Arturo Bandini: I don't blame you.
more
Movie Connections:
References Dames (1934) more
Soundtrack:
Gloomy Sunday more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
65 out of 85 people found the following comment useful.
Frustrating, 17 February 2006
6/10
Author: SammyK from Canada

I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Towne give a talk in Toronto, in which he mused on his long and (mostly) illustrious career. From Chinatown to Personal Best to The Firm, he spouted off anecdotes and insights into Hollywood and the screen writing process in general.

Then the audience was treated to a special preview screening of "Ask the Dust." It would seem that this has been a labour of love for Mr. Towne; one that has been several decades in the making. So in that sense, perhaps this film doesn't merit harsh criticism. The fact that Towne got it made is to be commended.

It's not a bad film, by any right. It boasts two decent performances from its leads Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell, lush cinematography, meticulous period detail and a sumptuous score. All the elements of a great film are there. However, nothing really gels.

My guess is that the source material is the film's ultimate downfall. It's dated, and contradictory. What begins as a pulpy potboiler in the vein of "The Postman Rings Twice" becomes a politically correct tirade against intolerance. Oh, and there's a healthy dose of "La Boheme" thrown in there for good measure.

The first half of the film is intriguing as the characters' motivations are enigmatic and unpredictable. Hayek comes across as a latina femme fatale, while Farrell plays the flawed noirish anti-hero. L.A. itself is a character - one of a city at odds with its surroundings. The description of the sand (or dust) from the desert filling the air is particularly poignant.

Halfway through, the film takes a perplexing turn. Turns out there is no mystery behind the motives of the leads. They just wanted to be loved/understood. Cue Hollywood clichés, and end scene. You can't help but be disappointed.

Perhaps in the hands of a '70s auteur director like Polanski, Antonioni or Bob Rafelson, the source material could have been tweaked or restructured to yield a more surprising and challenging film. I even wondered what the film would have been like with a 70s screen icon like Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino in the lead role.

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*SPOILERS REQUESTED* KatharinaRose
The bedroom scene jwinder83
What´s the meaning of the title? Polygraph
Excellent! al_fields
Idina Menzel way_in_over_my_head
Is 'S p i c' considered A Racial Slur? off_to_neverneverland
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