DVD Review - Ask the Dust
This film is written and directed by Robert Towne (from a novel by John Fante) who wrote the screenplay for Chinatown. So you would have high expectations for this film. Sadly, the film falls short of what one might expect.
The film is a depression era story that takes place in California. It focuses on Arturo Bandini who is trying to make a living as a writer. He dreams of blond, blue-eyed women but doesn't seem to be able to meet any. Who he does meet is a fiery Mexican waitress named Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek). Camilla would like to marry a rich American in order to be part of the "American Dream." However, she is so desperate to become an American that she even settles for her nasty co-worker Sammy (Justin Kirk). But as soon as Arturo and Camilla meet sparks begin to fly.
There are a number of reasons that this film doesn't work. The first one is that Farrell is totally miscast as Bandini. Bandini is supposed to be a passionate man but Farrell's performance is so wooden that nothing comes through. Hayek is wonderful and her performance makes up for Farrell's lack of passion. But she can't rescue the film. When they are on the screen together you want to see fire but it just isn't there (even in the sexy scenes) because of Farrell's blandness.
Idina Menzel gives a terrific performance as Vera Rivkin. Vera apparently falls for Bandini but the circumstances are very hazy and this plot twist makes absolutely no sense. Towne should have taken more time to explain this character (and cut out other scenes because the film certainly doesn't need to be longer). Donald Sutherland is very good as Bandini's alcoholic neighbor Hellfrick but we get see very little of him. And the wonderful Eileen Atkins is wasted as Bandini's landlady Mrs. Hargraves.
The film is beautiful to look at and for that we can thank cinematographer Caleb Daschanel. The film tries to show how there was so much prejudice at that time (Mrs. Hargraves does not allow Jews or Mexicans to rent space at her boarding house). On that level it has some success but it doesn't go far enough. It is too bad that this film turned out the way it did because the story line is a good one and if the screenplay was better written (and not so predictable) and the lead actor was a better fit this could have been a good film.
The film is a depression era story that takes place in California. It focuses on Arturo Bandini who is trying to make a living as a writer. He dreams of blond, blue-eyed women but doesn't seem to be able to meet any. Who he does meet is a fiery Mexican waitress named Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek). Camilla would like to marry a rich American in order to be part of the "American Dream." However, she is so desperate to become an American that she even settles for her nasty co-worker Sammy (Justin Kirk). But as soon as Arturo and Camilla meet sparks begin to fly.
There are a number of reasons that this film doesn't work. The first one is that Farrell is totally miscast as Bandini. Bandini is supposed to be a passionate man but Farrell's performance is so wooden that nothing comes through. Hayek is wonderful and her performance makes up for Farrell's lack of passion. But she can't rescue the film. When they are on the screen together you want to see fire but it just isn't there (even in the sexy scenes) because of Farrell's blandness.
Idina Menzel gives a terrific performance as Vera Rivkin. Vera apparently falls for Bandini but the circumstances are very hazy and this plot twist makes absolutely no sense. Towne should have taken more time to explain this character (and cut out other scenes because the film certainly doesn't need to be longer). Donald Sutherland is very good as Bandini's alcoholic neighbor Hellfrick but we get see very little of him. And the wonderful Eileen Atkins is wasted as Bandini's landlady Mrs. Hargraves.
The film is beautiful to look at and for that we can thank cinematographer Caleb Daschanel. The film tries to show how there was so much prejudice at that time (Mrs. Hargraves does not allow Jews or Mexicans to rent space at her boarding house). On that level it has some success but it doesn't go far enough. It is too bad that this film turned out the way it did because the story line is a good one and if the screenplay was better written (and not so predictable) and the lead actor was a better fit this could have been a good film.
posted by Film Fanatic | 9:21 AM
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