Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

ASK THE DUST (R)

MOVIE BIASES: Farrell, Hayek, Towne pre-sold.

MAJOR PLAYERS: Colin Farrell (The New World), Salma Hayek (Frida), and
writer/director Robert Towne (Chinatown)

Down to his last nickel, struggling writer and Colorado transplant Arturo Bandini (Farrell) sets out to get a cup of coffee in Depression-era Los Angeles. Always suit-clad and seeking romantic inspiration to write a story so great it will make him rich, he shares a most contentious meet cute with barmaid Camilla Lopez (Hayek).
Obsessed with her huaraches and sparky, fearless spirit, Arturo embarks upon an antagonistic, troubled yet ultimately loving relationship with Camilla, one filled with plenty of nudity, passion, and poetry.

As the forthright, dreamer of a writer Arturo Bandini ("lover of man and beast alike, afraid of nothing"), the clean cut, Irish born Farrell trots out his sturdy American accent to fuel the portrait of a proud immigrant's son ("I am satisfied with my name") who embraces life as much as aims to write about it. Breathing fire into the heart
of Camilla Lopez, Hayek employs her habitual sensuality and strength of will into Bandini's restless, passionate partner. Their chemistry is believably combustible, their characters' goals inspirational.

But the true star of this film is the venerable, legendary Robert Towne himself. Adapted from John Fante's novel, Towne's "Ask the Dust" is a lyrical, atmospheric, amblingly period romance that wonderfully transports you to 1930s LA. With whole sets recreated against the boundless skies of South Africa, "Dust" is an ode to the challenges of the immigrant experience, the artist's vision, and even the American
Dream itself. Gorgeously shot, professionally acted, and artfully directed, "Ask the Dust" is as breezily old school LA filmmaking as warm Santa Ana winds.

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare ASK THE DUST (R) MOVIE BIASES: Farrell, Hayek, Towne pre-sold. MAJOR PLAYERS: Colin Farrell (The New World), Salma Hayek (Frida), and writer/director Robert Towne (Chinatown) Down to his last nickel, struggling writer and Colorado transplant Arturo Bandini (Farrell) sets out to get a cup of coffee in Depression-era Los Angeles. Always suit-clad and seeking romantic inspiration to write a story so great it will make him rich, he shares a most contentious meet cute with barmaid Camilla Lopez (Hayek). Obsessed with her huaraches and sparky, fearless spirit, Arturo embarks upon an antagonistic, troubled yet ultimately loving relationship with Camilla, one filled with plenty of nudity, passion, and poetry. As the forthright, dreamer of a writer Arturo Bandini ("lover of man and beast alike, afraid of nothing"), the clean cut, Irish born Farrell trots out his sturdy American accent to fuel the portrait of a proud immigrant's son ("I am satisfied with my name") who embraces life as much as aims to write about it. Breathing fire into the heart of Camilla Lopez, Hayek employs her habitual sensuality and strength of will into Bandini's restless, passionate partner. Their chemistry is believably combustible, their characters' goals inspirational. But the true star of this film is the venerable, legendary Robert Towne himself. Adapted from John Fante's novel, Towne's "Ask the Dust" is a lyrical, atmospheric, amblingly period romance that wonderfully transports you to 1930s LA. With whole sets recreated against the boundless skies of South Africa, "Dust" is an ode to the challenges of the immigrant experience, the artist's vision, and even the American Dream itself. Gorgeously shot, professionally acted, and artfully directed, "Ask the Dust" is as breezily old school LA filmmaking as warm Santa Ana winds. @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com Â© 2004, Edwardo Jackson