Ask The Dust (2006) R - 3 Stars

I loved the way the movie is narrated where it makes you feel like you are involved in the writing of the story. Colin Farrell is pretty good playing a down on his luck writer living in Los Angeles during the Depression era of the 1930's. The one thing I'm unsure of - Was it Farrell's racism towards minorities that made him treat Camilla with such contempt when he first met her or, was it the fact she's a strong woman while he is a frustrated lonely man? It's a decent pick that shows racism comes in other colors besides black and white.

In the early part of the 1930's, Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell) comes to Los Angeles, California, from Colorado, as he feels it will inspire him to write a great novel. Settling in a Bunker Hill neighborhood, Arturo frequents the local coffee shop to creatively think of what he should write. While he spends his last nickles, drinking coffee served to him by a Mexican waitress, Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek), the two became enraged with each other. Arturo treats Camilla quite rudely, while he complains about the service and the coffee. In return Camilla reacts the in contempt, feeling snubbed and put down by him. But even after six months, of this bitter cantor between them, both find themselves having each other on their minds. Every time Arturo and Camilla form more of a bond together, something happens to tear them apart again, mainly due to her nationality.

Arturo hangs on to his dreams of writing, by small advance checks given out by his publisher, Hellfrick (Donald Sutherland) and eventually will go on to write his great novel. But will Arturo and Camilla be able to save their love affair?

Paramount Pictures
Director: Robert Towne
Writer: Robert Towne
Producers: Don Granger, Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise

I viewed 12/08