Ata-me

After all I heard and read about this movie, I think this one of the most commonly misunderstood movies ever. It is not a comedy (although sometimes bizarre). It is NOT a glorification of violence. It is not about S/M or Bondage (which occurs between consenting parties). It's message is NOT that if you tie up and beat a woman, she will love you in return.

This is a movie about two people who are unable to master life on their own. This has led Ricky to the mental ward and Marina to being a drug-addicted porn star, who just happens to have a streak of luck because a movie director is completely obsessed with her. In the end, the two have found each other and it looks as if together, they can find the happiness and home they always were looking for. Beautiful...

Yes, Ricky's method of convincing Marina to love him is horrible and unacceptable. His attitude toward women and life in general is seriously twisted, and he just cannot think of any other way to get what he needs to fulfill his desire of living what he considers an ordinary life. Why does Marina fall for it? Probably because he's the first person who ever seemed to care about her. He fights to get her, he fights to help her. Even if his interest in her is ruthless and possessive, it is a genuine, deep interest and that is what she has been missing all her life.

I found Atame to be a fascinating and remarkable movie. Watch it open-minded and try to look beneath the pure surface of the plot, and you will be moved and captivated by its beauty.

An unbalanced but alluring former mental patient (Antonio Banderas) takes a porn star (Victoria Abril) prisoner in the hopes of convincing her to marry him.

How can anyone deny the beautiful, almost dreamlike use of color in this film? Trying to find anything comparable is a challenge. The musicals of Jacques Demy? No, not even those.

"Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" comes from a strong pedigree, as it follows in the myth of Beauty and the Beast and the notion that the savagery of the Beast is, in the presence of Beauty, tamed by gentler feelings. This has been a recurrent theme in films like "King Kong", "Frankenstein" and "Tarzan the Ape Man". Some have even drawn parallels to "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" in that kidnapping can lead to romance.

The soundtrack was composed by Ennio Morricone in the style of a thriller and is reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann's score for Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". This music changes the whole tone. Some consider the film a "dark romantic comedy" and others even say there is a hint of horror in there. Much of the mood relies on the music -- with a lighter tone, this could just be an "offbeat" romantic comedy and not a "dark" one -- there is very little about the film that is dark besides the music.

Pedro Almodovar's "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" from 1989 is an earlier film from this quirky director. Almodovar's characters are inevitably off the wall and in bizarre situations. This film and its characters are no exception.

"Tie Me Up!" was given an X rating (later NC-17) for a couple of scenes and in the United States at least, it was quite controversial.

The story concerns a recently-released mental hospital patient, Ricky (Antonio Banderas) who kidnaps an ex-porn star, Marina (Victoria Abril) currently making a low-budget horror film. Though the title suggests S&M, there isn't any. Ricky ties her up when he needs to leave the apartment.

An expert in carpentry, locksmithing, and other usable occupations, Ricky had actually been leaving the mental hospital when he felt like it and then returning. During one of those times, he had a one-night stand with Marina.

Deeply in love with her, he stalks her on the film set and, when she doesn't speak to him, confronts her in her apartment, declaring his love and his intention of marrying her and fathering her children. Marina, of course, would like to escape him, but Ricky makes that difficult. A former heroin addict, Marina has a toothache and explains that nothing will help except strong medicine from her doctor up the street. So Ricky handcuffs her to him and they walk to the doctor's apartment, where Marina receives an injection and a prescription.

Later, when she needs more drugs, Ricky goes to the town square to score some and ends up beaten to a pulp. When he returns, Marina is horrified and begins to have real feelings for him.

Meanwhile, her sister Lola (Loles Leon) is worried, believing Marina to have disappeared.

There is a very long sex scene in this film that took 9 hours to film, with Almodovar using the last take.

"Tie Me Up!" launched Banderas in the United States, and this is his last film with Almodovar. He plays Ricky beautifully - as an innocent from a troubled background who will do anything to convince this woman to love him. Abril is a sexy and feisty Marina, and, like Ricky, she is a lost soul trying to find her way. Ricky is an orphan; Abril has a mother, sister, and nephew, but both of them are alone in their worlds.

Despite the title and the sex, this is actually a sweet tale with likable characters. Almodovar often has a bizarre way of telling a story and making a point, but the results, with few exceptions, are well worth it.

Antonio Banderas was truly in his form and height of career when he was cast in Almovodar's Spanish movies. Banderas portrayed innocence and simplicity of character in these early movies that Hollywood always seems to make large and gloss over any sort of character development. There is something that Hollywood seems to drain away and leave behind in the character of people, yet Banderas/Almovodar capture so perfectly the average man/woman and portray them in interesting ways. Atame (Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down) is a delicious little movie about a crook who falls in love with an actress. To get her attention, he kidnaps her and the fun begins. Almovodar's movies are always filled with quirky characters, funny dialogue and plot twists. To see Antonio Banderas at his finest playing a simple man who falls in love but has some issues..Atame is a cute, touching movie to rent.

Ricky is a charismatic 23-year-old who has just been released from a mental asylum. He has no goal in life but to settle down with Marina Osorio, a famed porn actress whom he once had a one-night stand with. The first step in his seduction technique is to force his way into Marina's flat and tie her to the bed. From there, as time marches on, Ricky is sure she will have no choice but to fall in love with him. In his mind, it's a fool-proof plan, though the realities of the situation prove to be a lot more complicated, as we see in Pedro Almodóvar's brilliant 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'

A darkly comic love story, 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' is funny, unpredictable and thoroughly enjoyable. Written by Almodóvar, Ricky and Marina's story is off-beat and surprisingly heartfelt. His dialogue is quick and sharp, and while his characters are all humorous creations to be sure, they are also multifaceted ones of depth and intelligence. They leave an impression on the viewer, and watching the narrative unfold around them is a delight. The film's examination of relationship structures is one most percipient, and Almodóvar's subversion of the traditional courting routines is wickedly clever. The themes involved therein are explored maturely, and- all in all- it's a great, dark little tale that'll keep you entertained throughout.

'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' is a visually stunning watch, boasting stylish cinematography from José Luis Alcaine. Under Almodóvar's direction, he makes terrific use of space, texture and especially colour. His second collaboration with the director, Alcaine's utilisation of primary colours in the film is arresting, particularly of the reds and oranges; which linger in the mind long after the credits have rolled. It's a highly stylized film, with some extremely artistic shots that captivate the eye. Credit for the overall look of the film must also go to art director Ferran Sánchez and production designer Esther García, whose efforts have helped form the multicoloured spectacle that the finished flick is.

The film features a score from the late, great Ennio Morricone, arguably the king of the motion picture soundtrack. His work for 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' is delicate and beautiful, adding no small amount of majesty to the proceedings; with the track 'If You Knew How Many Nights' being particularly haunting. Also of note is José Salcedo's editing, which is swift and flawless; with scenes cut together seamlessly. Additionally, José María de Cossío's costume design is intricate and detailed, and his costumes for Marina are especially rich.

'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' finds Victoria Abril and Antonio Banderas starring as Marina and Ricky, respectively. Abril is terrific, and gives a spirited performance of tenacity and wit. An incredibly likable and talented performer, she gives the role her all and holds nothing back. She is matched by Banderas, who brings boundless charm and intensity to Ricky, making him a most lovable madman. Together, they work wonderfully, sharing an electric chemistry that seems genuine. From the supporting cast, Loles León and Francisco Rabal stand out, giving hilarious performances that are highlights in both of their filmographies.

Original, funny and heartfelt, Pedro Almodóvar's 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' is a marvellous black comedy that impresses on every level. Featuring an assured visual style and terrific cinematography from José Luis Alcaine, as well as an emotive Ennio Morricone score, the movie has a lot to offer viewers. Strongly acted and cleverly written, the film is a colourful and crazy love story that is sure to entertain and amuse any who watch it.