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Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek, Donald Sutherland, Eileen Atkins, Idina Menzel ... see more see more... , Justin Kirk , Jeremy Crutchley , Richard Schickel , Charlie Hunnam , Dion Basco , Ronald France , Wayne Harrison , William Mapother

Adapted from a novel by John Fante, Robert Towne's Ask the Dust stars Colin Farrell as Arturo Bandini, a young writer who comes to Los Angeles during the Great Depression in order to write a novel. As... read more read more... the film opens, he is down to his last nickel and decides to spend it on coffee in a diner. He is served by Camilla (Salma Hayek), 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. Donald Sutherland co-stars as a seedy but helpful and loyal neighbor. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

36% liked it

41,744 ratings

Critics

35% liked it

104 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Robert Towne

Release Date: March 10, 2006

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DVD Release Date: July 25, 2006

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Stats: 839 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (839)

  • arashxak
    September 6, 2008
    arashxak
    "I looked for Camilla everywhere,and everywhere I looked,all the faces seemed like mine.Tight. Worried. Lost.
    Faces with the blood drained away.Faces like flowers torn from their roots,the colors fading fast."
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 20, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    this film wanted to be great, and could have been so, but it missed the mark. at least average, it failed with oddities of the story and uncomfortable moments that were unneccesary to the plot. the premise was great but it missed on most everything else.
  • gator681
    March 25, 2006
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Ask the Dust", it is the 1930's when Arturo Bandini(Colin Farrell) has had a story published in H.L. Mencken's magazine, American Mercury. With the $150 he receives, he moves from Colorado to Los Angeles where he seeks to pursue a career as a writer. On... read morely one problem: he is an inexperienced young man and has nothing to write about despite the rich palette happening just outside of his window. He is soon down to his last nickel and decides to spend it on a coffee at a local bar. However, the coffee is downright awful and he gets into a running argument with a beautiful waitress, Camilla(Salma Hayek).[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Ask the Dust", 1930's Los Angeles is a place for people to get a new start but too many of them just recreate their old lives and even worse, bring their old prejudices along for the ride. And even Arturo and Camilla cannot escape this. [/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]"Ask the Dust" is an adequate movie that starts well but slows down to a crawl and becomes predictable. But it is evocative in recreating 1930's Los Angeles and Colin Farrell gives his best performance to date. [/font]
  • michaelcorleone
    August 24, 2009
    michaelcorleone
    Robert Towne's uneven character study has sparse great moments, but there were enough strong ideas to keep me engaged. This is a flawed piece that requires a lot of patience, especially considering the fact that its first act is its weakest. However, the unorthodox protagonist an... read mored sexual energy keep it afloat enough for its positive elements to shine through. Colin Farrell, who is a consistently impressive actor, is not given enough credit for his talent. He does quite a good job in this, and Salma Hayek turns in a respectable performance too. If you're willing to overlook its faults, it's an engaging watch.
  • leekyle1968
    July 6, 2009
    leekyle1968
    I hate to sound like a chauvinist here, but aside from the Salma Hayek nude scenes here nothing else more to see.
  • slashervictim
    November 21, 2011
    slashervictim
    "You call me beautiful at home, then you are ashamed to be seen with me in public. You are ashamed of beauty you recognize that no one else does. You are ashamed to love me!"
  • sumsitup
    September 12, 2011
    sumsitup
    Interesting, but mostly forgettable. Hayek and Farrell both do an admirable job portraying a pained courtship of mutual affection but open hostility. Neither one wants to be the "nice guy", but they also feel frustrated with why they treat each other so poorly considering their... read more obvious affections.

    Los Angeles during the Great Depression is fascinating and well done. I find the economics also enjoyable, where a nickel buys a cup of coffee, and rent is $10 a month. If nothing else, the movie gives us a clear glimpse of what things might have been like in that era.

    I don't think the chemistry between the two was quite right... the sparring sure fit, but it never felt like a smoldering going on behind those mean words. Perhaps Hayek has too strong of a sex appeal and simply outmatches Colin.... dunno, that's one for the ladies to answer.

    This should have some appeal to writers and romantics, but it's a slow starter and nothing earth shattering. Quaking, yes... but not shattering. (Inside movie joke)
  • macabrescribe
    June 24, 2009
    macabrescribe
    I'm going to come off as a pervert, but I don't care. Had Hayek's glorious nudity not been present, the movie would have been an utter waste of time.
  • TweenertooN
    February 14, 2009
    TweenertooN
    DUMB MOVIE! "in pursuit of happiness means loving whoever you wants without being afraid"?
    STUPID DUMB IDEA! -by cocomango

    *uh, haha. dude, it actually makes me cry. boohoo. this is one movie we don't agree with the review, but i agree with your stars. you probably got reaso... read morens why.

    love salma hayek. i wished she was younger
  • bastet05
    September 7, 2008
    bastet05
    A great film with romance born of hatred. The chemistry between Hayak and Farell is magnetic- even if the ocean scene seemed a bit awkward to me. But despite the great soundtrack, acting, and filming, i was disappointed in the end.
    *****SPOLERS! *****
    *****
    *****
    *****
    why can'... read moret tortured characters ever have some bit of happiness? They still would have had more to overcome but to outright kill the lead actress to TB... bleh.

View All Ask the Dust Reviews

Critic Reviews

David Edelstein
May 12, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Something is missing, though. The themes are all there, but the movie doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier and rev you up. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
March 30, 2006
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Farrell and costar Salma Hayek have rarely been so affecting, or so effective, as self-hating ethnics who find love.

Roger Moore
March 24, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Who would have guessed that Robert Towne, the writer of Chinatown, could make a movie as awful as Ask the Dust? It has it all -- one-dimensional characters, one-dimensional set and idiotically arch di... Full Review

Ann Hornaday
March 23, 2006
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Ask the Dust is one of the most eagerly awaited cinematic projects of 2006, which may be why it lands with such a curious thud. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
March 18, 2006
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

Whether or not you're familiar with John Fante, if you like novels, you'll like Ask the Dust. Full Review

Michael Phillips
March 18, 2006
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

... not for all tastes but far from flavorless. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 18, 2006
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

[A] sexy, sensual, romantic, nostalgic adaptation of the novel ... Full Review

Wesley Morris
March 18, 2006
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

... after an hour or so, Ask the Dust seems to have said everything, and the air starts to seep out of its hermetic atmosphere. Full Review

Roger Ebert
March 18, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Ask the Dust requires an audience with a special love for film noir, with a feeling for the loneliness and misery of the writer, and with an understanding that any woman he meets will be beautiful. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
March 17, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The fact is, there's something sadly lifeless about Ask the Dust. Full Review

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Ask the Dust Trivia

  • What actress starred along with Colin Ferrel in "Ask the Dust"?  Answer »
  • In what film does Colin Farrell play a starving writer living in a Bunker Hill hotel in 1930s Los Angeles?  Answer »
  • 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. Name this 2006 Colin Farrell movie as Arturo Bandini and Selma Hayek as Camilla.   Answer »
  • Salma Hayek Movie? Ask The Dust  Answer »
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