Product Details

• Actors: Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles León, Julieta Serrano, María Barranco
• Format: Color, Letterboxed, Original recording reissued, Widescreen, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NC-17
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• VHS Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004Y6B3
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,480 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Perhaps only Pedro Almodóvar could come up with a story about a mental patient who stalks and kidnaps an ex-porn star--and turn it into a tender love story. But that's exactly what happens in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, a lively installment from the Spanish director's wacky middle period (after the scruffy early films, and before his mature melodramas). Two of Almodóvar's sexiest stars, Antonio Banderas and Victoria Abril, play the leads: a cracked young man with dreams of bourgeois domesticity, and an actress who used to specialize in porno and heroin. Despite that fact that he binds her limbs with cord when he leaves the house, he always returns with a cheerful "I'm home!" For all Almodóvar's outrageousness, there's a touch of classical Hollywood in his construction. And while this movie is not for the politically correct, it does play by its own warped rules. --Robert Horton

From The New Yorker

This Pedro Almodóvar's movie gets off to a fast start, like a windup toy, but it runs out of momentum early, and Almodóvar can't figure out how to start it up again. The story, about a released mental patient (Antonio Banderas) who follows a sexy actress (Victoria Abril) and then takes her prisoner, seems to tie the director's wild imagination down, and his efforts to keep his (and the audience's) blood circulating betray some desperation. Neither the kidnapper's romantic obsession nor his captive's eventual love for him is especially convincing. And we don't fully enjoy the perverse humor of the situation, either: we've seen the victim subdued by a hard slap, and that image is too strong to forget. The limpness of "Tie Me Up!" suggests that Almodóvar is either a confused director or a tired one-probably a bit of both. It's as if he had made the movie solely to satisfy the public's demand for a new Almodóvar film. Also with Francisco Rabal, Loles Leon, and Lola Cardona. Screenplay by Almodóvar. In Spanish. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wild & Erotic World of Almodovar, September 29, 2000

By 

Luis Hernandez (New York, New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (DVD)

Pedro Almodovar followed up the success of his international hit, "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," with this wild, erotic comic fantasy starring his long-time leading man and soon-to-be Hollywood star, Antonio Banderas.

Fresh from his incarceration from an asylum in Madrid, Banderas plays a ex-lunatic who leaves in search of the object of his affection, a popular Spanish porn star (played by Victoria Abril).

After meeting, then kidnapping her, Banderas' character is more determined to make her fall in love with him, and does whatever he needs to do in order to win her love. However, Abril, refuses to love a man who has made her a prisoner of her own home. The title, which is a translation of its' original Spanish title, "Atame!," reflects the method Banderas uses to coax and subdue Abril's character in falling in love with him (he ties her up in her bedroom).

While the story seems far-fetched at times, the chemistry that Banderas and Abril emit makes the film work. Supporting actresses Maria Barranco and Rosie de Palma lend their unique comic talents in helping the director weave a tale of love and desire that only Almodovar can tell.

Upon release in the United States, this film was slapped with the newly created and feared NC-17 rating due to his sexual themes and minor violence. Compared to R rated films of the present such as "Basic Instinct" and "The Matrix," this film is tame. Refusing to edit his work, Almodovar criticized the MPAA for its' decision to market the film with an NC-17 rating. Due to this rating, the film did not do too well at the box office as expected.

This film marks Banderas' final film in Spain, before departing to the United States to start his successful career in Hollywood. The film contains glimpses of Banderas' backside, as well as a whole lot of Abril's figure, and the sexual scenes are soft-core porn quality. If you are offended by glimpses of the naked body or sexual themes, then skip this film.

"Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" is one of Almodovar's rare gems. As a true master of the Spanish cinema, his work truly reflects his gifted talent. A great film with a comic ending!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BRINGS YOU UP ... NOT DOWN, August 29, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! Widescreen Collector's Edition [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Perhaps Pedro Almodovars'most talked about film. This Video starring Antonio Banderas as a psychiatric patient obsessed with a former porno star / prostitute, played by beautiful Victoria Abril, is not one of Almodovars' best films, but definately worth a look.

Ricky (Banderas), recently released psychiatric patient, kidnaps Marina (abril) and is convinced that he can get her to fall in love with him. Banderas and Abril champion their roles, as the psycho who just needs love and the hooker with a big heart, which fits perfectly with Almodovars directorial style. Some viewers will consider this "over the top" while others, familiar with Almodovars work, will find it very entertaining, quite funny and a must see! The film is loaded with frantic, frenzied bondage scenes as well as finely exploiting the sexual tension between the leading actors. Sometimes wonderfully erotic and sometimes cartoonishly comic this film is a fun avant-garde romp. Oh yes and did I say Abril is a beautiful women - you can't keep your eyes off her. Oh and make sure you get the "unrated" version. You don't want to miss the controversial "bathtub scene" involving Abril and that naughty toy submarine ! Yep, that's right! ... Enjoy !

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun dark comedy, August 16, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (DVD)

If you are easily turned off my dark humor, this movie is not for you. This movie can evoke strong feelings, so either you will love it or hate it. I am one on the I loved it side. This movie is by Aldomovar, a director that often pushes the normal limits of society. Where else can a drug addicted movie star, become kidnapped and fall in love with her captor (played by Antonio Bandaras). A very enjoyable movie for the right person.