Ask the Dust - 11-06

By Clayton Davis

The film starts off with a very melancholy flavor and a unique opening sequence reminiscent of Far from Heaven but the entire beginning of the film along with the narration feels like a radio cop show that should have been kept on the radio. Robert Towne, the acclaimed writer of the classic, Chinatown brings us into the story of Arturo Bandini, an American writer who moves to write a beloved tale of love. The film has a lot of trouble picking up and keeping the story moving. The pace is utterly off and ill-mannered in giving us a tale of what? I have no idea, but there’s some people talking and some entrances and exits unknown to the viewer.

The story itself while sounds like a little rip off Moulin Rouge is its own strange tale that fails to engulf the characters with modesty and honesty. The director also forgets to invite the audience into the story and illustrate a picture that we can admire. We’re lost somewhere between the land of reality and the beautiful world of motion pictures. Colin Farrell plays the strange Arturo, the Italian-American writer who has a gift of language but is unintelligent in choice and callous in words. Arturo becomes smitten by the beautiful but uncanny Camilla played somewhat skillfully by Salma Hayek. Camilla is a Mexican-immigrant who waitresses at a local restaurant and is in plans to become a citizen. The depth of these two characters is underdeveloped and coy, coy in the manner of allowing these two intimates to give some naked truth to their own lives and underdeveloped in letting them become the person rather than the outline. Farrell has been showing some promise the past few years and we’ve been waiting to see something special from him but the poor storyline doesn’t allow him to stretch his legs and walk. He stands inside his Arturo and is insipid, bland and bored. Actors often enjoy their characters but Farrell takes it on as a gig rather than an adventure. His body language and delivery of lines is quite cumbersome and awkward to say the least.

Hayek on the other hand does breathe some life into her Camilla but the direction of the film is astray and bewildered. Towne didn’t know if he wanted to create a love story or insult the notion of it. Camilla’s outbursts at Arturo gives us the necessary emotions needed to be acquainted with her but no real representation of her internal persona or sincere passion. Hayek is extremely sexy and beautiful but in that lies the performance, nothing “meaty” or spectacular just Frida minus unibrow, lesbians and paintings. Idina Menzel receives best in show honors for her stunning and haunting portrayal of Vera, the drunken mystery woman who finds her woes and sorrows in the eyes of Arturo. She inhabits Vera and gains the sympathy considered necessary for us to care and mourn for Vera. Despite her peculiar entrance, she does keep herself locked into the focal point of Vera and stays. Menzel alone is the redeeming quality of the film and keeps it from outright failing. In recent memory I cannot remember a love story that I just did not care about. Arturo and Camilla are just sketches, a muse of human beings in the world of fiction that never needed to be shared. The ending result is satisfying but plain resolution and unwanted reminiscing of parts of the film they should of cut. Consideration should focus on the beautiful cinematography but in terms of a Hayek nomination we can just wait for other contenders to roll down and take up the spaces. Ask the Dust is worth a watch and some people can find their love in it but I had no desire to ask anybody about the film, not even the dust.

Grade: **1/2/****