Opened: March 17, 2006

Directed by: Robert Towne

Staring: Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek, Donald Sutherland, Eileen Atkins, Idina Menzel, Justin Kirk, Dion Basco, Jeremy Crutchley & William Mapother

Based on the John Fante novel, Ask the Dust is devoid of energy and its romance never grabs hold of the audience the way it wants to.

Author Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell) comes to Los Angeles to begin his writing career and falls in love with passionate waitress Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek). They bunker together after the Long Beach earthquake of 1933, but Camilla becomes infected with tuberculosis.

Hayek is the stronger of the leads with Camilla’s concerns about racial discrimination feeling genuine. She and Farrell have chemistry, though he doesn’t quite fit his character. The breakout star of the film is Idina Menzel, who only appears twice but leaves a lasting impression.

The moments that are supposed to have the greatest effects are letdowns as their realism isn’t there.

Final say: You can see tumbleweed rolling through this dust. ★★☆☆☆