Sans nouvelles de Dieu

This was one of the most enjoyable film experiences I have had this year. I saw the film at the AFI festival in Los Angeles; it is going to be released in the US in April under the title "Don't Tempt Me."

Cruz (devil) and Abril (angel) are cast against type and it works very well, Cruz giving one of her best performances. Bernal is also memorable as a very likeable devil, and Birchir is completely convincing as the frustrated boxer whose soul hangs in the balance.

The film starts out with an amazing bit of philosophical exposition, a shock for anyone who is used to watching Hollywood fare. You can't imagine dialogue like this is a Hollywood film; yet it is funny, captivating, brilliant. The humor in the film is, by American standards, sophisticated and intelligent; yet the film is full of sexual imagery and violence (nothing extreme but energizing to the story) and is highly accessible. It should appeal to a fairly wide audience, especially since there are so many Spanish speakers in the US.

It's a superb and entertaining morality play, with the action, drama and comedy tightly interwoven; with a political subtext that itself is the driving force behind the film.

Hell is portrayed as an English speaking corporation in the American style (although staffed with Europeans), and Heaven mostly takes place in a French-speaking Parisian nightclub. The Earth scenes are in Spain, and the meetings between angels and devils in Latin. This all works very well and the subtitles are easy to follow.

The soundtrack begins with a Dylan song I hadn't heard before, too.

Entertaining. Unique in style. It's a story about an angel from Heaven and a fallen angel from Hell who both compete over the soul of a boxer.

Penelope's role in this film is more of a far cry than in her previous roles. Normally, she is cast as a beautiful object of desire, as in Vanilla Sky, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, All the Pretty Horses and Woman on Top. She has even been cast as a slightly less-than-attractive, but still desired woman, as in Blow and Gothika. For the first time, Penelope Cruz is actually shot in an almost undesirable way in this film - even letting herself get beat up a couple of times. She does pull it off, and the film succeeds as an off-kilter dark comedy with that Hollywood "Heaven vs. Hell" factor added in.

It is worth it, if for nothing else, to see Penelope dance around her room "Travolta style" to the song "Kung-Fu Fighting".

"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 .

Agustín Díaz Yanes's mesmerizing, quirky and funny 'Sin Noticias de Dios' is a refreshing take on heave and hell on earth. With an original and amusing premise and strong writing, it is a fun ride all the way. I haven't seen anything like it. The humour is a good mix of quirkiness, dryness and sarcasm that works on multiple levels. It's funny how a black and white 50's French setting is chosen to depict heaven while a dirty (perhaps South American prison) setting is chosen to portray hell. Similarly language selection is interesting as French is spoken in heaven, English is spoken in hell and Spanish on Earth.

Heaven is shown as a very romantic, classy and glamorous place to be at (a bit like the romanticized image one sees in classic French films) while hell is quite the opposite. Fanny Ardant and Gemma Jones play the leaders of the respective places (and they're both terrific). Their character recruit Carmen and Lola to conquer fallen boxer Manny's soul. Of course battle ensues when the two recruits come face to face but not the way you think.

Yanes assembles a n enviable cast that includes Penelope Cruz, Victoroia Abril, Gemma Jones, Gael Garcia Bernal, Elena Anaya, Elsa Pataky, Fanny Ardant, Demián Bichir, Cristina Marcos, Peter McDonald, Luis Tosar and more. All the actors do a great job. Abril sure is stunning and she sure can sing. Her rendition of 'I Want To Be Evil' is a must-see. Penelope Cruz has a tricky role and she does full justice to it. She is sexy, spunky, streetsmart and not to be messed with but at the same time she's just 'like one of the guys'. Saying more would be revealing too much.

On the technical side, it's a very well made film. Colour is used very effectively. The cinematography is first rate. I especially enjoyed the long single shots. And of course, the soundtrack is magic.

'Sin Noticias de Dios' is one of a kind. I'm surprised it's received so little recognition but it's a thrill ride all the way.

Amusing film which is in four languages! Do your best to get an original copy, not a dubbed one. The language of hell is English, the language of heaven is French, the angels communicate to each other in Latin, and the language of Earth is Spanish. It's worth it just for that. Good acting, creative story and filming.