Pedro Almodóvar’s colorful, controversial, NC-17 rated comedy follows an unstable former mental patient (Antonio Banderas, in his fifth Almodóvar film) who kidnaps and holds hostage the woman of his dreams (Victoria Abril, kicking off a string of Almodóvar classics). Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down playfully explores the dynamics between men & women, turning its bleak set-up upside-down with dark humor and a sexy, off-kilter tone. Banderas & Abril shine, as does the radiant cinematography by José Luis Alcaine and the score by Ennio Morricone.
