We're No Angels Reviews

Irish director Neil Jordan (MONA LISA) again brings his fresh, personal perspective to a Hollywood genre formula in WE'RE NO ANGELS--which is only superficially based on the 1955 Humphrey Bogart comedy of the same title. Set near the Canadian border during the Depression, the film stars Robert De Niro and Sean Penn as Ned and Jim, two prisoners who reluctantly take part in a prison break and wind up in a ramshackle border town. There, while evading their vengeful prison warden (Ray McAnally in his last screen appearance), they masquerade as two theologians who have written a book about a local shrine. They also cross paths with cold-hearted hooker Molly (Demi Moore), whose deaf daughter becomes instrumental in their ruse to flee into Canada. Beautifully photographed by Philippe Rousselot and ably scripted by dialogue artist David Mamet, it's a resolute little film with an old-fashioned story. It works, in the end, because its generous emotions are earned. De Niro mugs a bit, but Penn is surprisingly endearing as a naive young criminal looking for a little peace of mind.