Don't Tempt Me (2001)
"Sin noticias de Dios" (original title)

Two angels, one from the heaven and one from the hell, come to earth to save the soul of a boxer.

Director:

Agustín Díaz Yanes

Writer:

Agustín Díaz Yanes

Stars:

Victoria Abril, Penélope Cruz, Demián Bichir

3 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victoria Abril	...	Lola Nevado
Penélope Cruz	...	Carmen Ramos
Demián Bichir	...	Manny
Fanny Ardant	...	Marina D'Angelo
Juan Echanove	...	Supermarket manager
Gael García Bernal	...	Davenport
Emilio Gutiérrez Caba	...	Police chief
Cristina Marcos	...	Police officer
Gemma Jones	...	Nancy
Bruno Bichir	...	Eduardo
Elena Anaya	...	Pili
Peter McDonald	...	Henry
Alicia Sánchez	...	Checkout girl
Luis Tosar	...	Police officer
Elsa Pataky	...	Waitress in Hell

Storyline

A boxer named Manny, battling a potentially life-threatening brain injury, finds his soul to be the object of a metaphysical fight. Two different supernatural agents are sent to win over his soul to their side: one is an angel from a curious version of Heaven, that looks just like a beatific Paris, and in it everyone speaks French; and the other agent is a waitress from Hell, sent to seduce him to spend his eternity in a red-tinted prison where everyone speaks English.

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Plot Keywords:

soul | hell | heaven | boxer | fight | 

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Taglines:

Ama ni mo noboru, otoshimae[Japan]

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content

Details

Country:

Spain France Italy Mexico

Language:

Spanish English French Latin Portuguese

Release Date:

30 November 2001 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Bendito Infierno (Don't Tempt Me)

Box Office

Budget:

ESP 1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$15,271 (USA) (22 August 2003)

Gross:

$77,281 (USA) (14 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flamenco Films S.A., Tornasol Films, Cartel Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The photo Lola (Victoria Abril) puts into the album shows the mother of Manny. The woman in this photo is the actress Pilar Bardem.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Carmen Ramos: History vindicates us, and you know it.
Lola Nevado: History vindicates no one. History's a deaf man answering questions he wasn't asked.

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Connections

Features Goodfellas (1990)

User Reviews

Fun and bemusing Spanish comedy with a stellar duo and a large support cast

"Don't Tempt Me" is a very pleasant action comedy plenty of humor , surrealist dialogs , emotion , spectacular scenes and mayhem . Heaven and hell send their best agents to Earth , and they're wearing heels . Two angels are on Earth , one named Lola (Victoria Abril) from the heaven and one named Carmen (Penelope Cruz) from the hell, come to save a boxer named Many (Damian Bichir) who finds his soul to be the object of a metaphysical fight.

This exciting film results to be a surrealist comedy/action/drama/thriller and displays an all Spanish star-cast. The singer played by Victoria Abril and the former mobster performed by Penelope Cruz star this dark story of redemption about heaven and hell ; both of whom have a violent confrontation to accomplish their objectives . Rightly enjoyable and fun-filled , milestone comedy which neatly combines humor , mirth , entertaining situations and amusement . The funny screenplay manages a lot of laughs from the audience and twisted elements that you never loose your attention from the film . The only flaw I can find is that some of the story lines are overwhelmingly absurd and some character arcs end up being implausible . Some situations are laugh out loud ridiculous and the story proceeds at a breakneck speed that never falls flat .Pay attention as one couple of younger actors very well played by Victoria Abril and Penelope Cruz alternate with the other pair of older players perfectly performed by Fanny Ardant and Emilio Gutierrez Caba . I liked everyone in the excellent cast, and the male and female actors , they were all very attractive . Flawless and fantastic story full of twists and turns with a duo of sensational protagonists , including an unforgettable Penelope Cruz , she parades and dances sexily at her best and more relaxed and enticing than ever . The hit of the show is undoubtedly for the fetching Penelope who gives one of the best screen acting . The support cast is top-notch as Elsa Pataky , Luis Tosar , Gael Garcia Bernal , Gemma Jones , Cristina Marcos , Elena Anaya , Bruno Bichir , Juan Echanove and many others . And cameos by Javier Bardem in the closing credits, as we learn that Penélope Cruz was changed back into a man in the afterlife , then we see the man's photo , it is Javier Bardem ; furthermore , the photo Victoria Abril puts into the album shows the mother of Manny , the woman in this photo is the actress Pilar Bardem . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by the recently deceased Bernardo Bonezzi . Colorful and adequate cinematography by Paco Femenia .

Agustin Diaz Yanes' return to top form , with an intelligent and engaging script which uses amusing situations to give us a good movie in fast pace , entertaining events , plot twists and that kept me entertained for the almost two hours of duration . Diaz Yanes is a fine craftsman , thanks to his reputation as screenwriter and the support of Victoria Abril he was able to set up his first film as director: "Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead " that became the greatest hit of Spanish cinema at its release in 1995 and the Festival San Sebastian , including best actress to Victoria Abril . Yanes subsequently directed the successful ¨Alatriste¨ and ¨Solo Quiero Caminar¨ that failed at Spanish box office .