We're No Angels (1989)

Two escaped cons only prayer to escape is to pass themselves off as priests and pass by the police blockade at the border into the safety of Canada.

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers:

David Mamet, Ranald MacDougall (earlier screenplay) (as Ranald Macdougall)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Demi Moore

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Ned
Sean Penn	...	Jim
Demi Moore	...	Molly
Hoyt Axton	...	Father Levesque
Bruno Kirby	...	Deputy
Ray McAnally	...	Warden
James Russo	...	Bobby
Wallace Shawn	...	Translator
John C. Reilly	...	Young Monk
Jay Brazeau	...	Sheriff
Ken Buhay	...	Bishop Nogalich
Elizabeth Lawrence	...	Mrs. Blair
Bill Murdoch	...	Deputy
Jessica Jickels	...	Rosie
Frank C. Turner	...	Shopkeeper

Storyline

A couple of escaped convicts on the run find refuge with the Church when they are mistaken for two priests. The two are keen to flee but are unable to do so without the help of Molly.

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Plot Keywords:

lingerie slip | priest | police | con | convict | 

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Taglines:

The Cons Are Loose and The Comedy Is In!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Latin

Release Date:

15 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

No somos ángeles

Filming Locations:

Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,047,630, 17 December 1989

Gross USA:

$10,555,348

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,555,348

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie and Brian De Palma's Casualties of War (1989) were the first two theatrical feature films of John C. Reilly, who, in this movie, portrayed a young monk.

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Goofs

When Ned agrees to partake in the march to Canada while talking to Father Levesque a boom can clearly be seen being raised in the reflection of windows behind them.

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Quotes

Deputy: Father, Father I've been shot
Ned: I'm very happy for you

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Crazy Credits

In the ending credits, the film is dedicated to the actor Ray McAnally who passed away shortly after this film was made.

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Connections

Featured in The Great Canadian Supercut (2017)

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Soundtracks

In The Garden Of Tomorrow
By George Graff (as George Graffe, Jr.) & Jessie Deppen (as Jessie L. Deppen)

User Reviews

Excellent, in the Manner of '21 Grams'

Everyone knows what a black comedy is. But is there is such a thing as a white comedy? I think so, and I think this is one of them. In the same way that '21 Grams' works a fairly serious portrayal of a crisis of faith into a tense melodramatic thriller, 'We're No Angels' actually masks some serious thoughtfulness about the importance of faith and hope into a decently funny comedy of mistaken identity. It also illustrates concretely the truth of C.S. Lewis's famous dictum (from the Screwtape Letters)that all men become what they are pretending to be.

The movie is very plotty and all the loose points neatly wrapped up. What a lot of the critics have missed is that all of the jokes are thematic, and tied to the central topics of the movie.

I am not at all conventionally religious, but I do appreciate faith, and I liked this movie quite a bit.