Wuchak
Released in 1998 and directed by Brad Silberling, "City of Angels" is a drama/fantasy/romance starring Nicolas Cage as a literal angel in Los Angeles named Seth who's assigned to bring the dead to God. During one of his assignments he meets and becomes intrigued by a doctor (Meg Ryan) and wonders what it would like to be human. Andre Braugher is on hand as Seth's angel friend while Dennis Franz plays a human in whom Seth seems to have an affinity. Will Seth "fall to the earth"? I saw this when I was younger and it didn't have much of an impact, although I liked it. Viewing it at an older age definitely heightened my appreciation and shows that this is a movie for mature people (regardless of what age). It skillfully touches on heavy issues of which younger people don't particularly dwell. Written by Dana Stevens and based on the 1987 film "Wings of Desire," everything depends on if the film can convince the viewer that the angels are real and believable in the context of the story. It does so convincingly with a tone similar to "Meet Joe Black," which was released (later) the same year as "City of Angels"; and maybe 1990's "Ghost." If you like these two movies you will definitely appreciate "City."I don't want to say anything more because it's better that you watch the movie and discover its potential riches for yourself. The script is well thought out, although they didn't milk the ending for all its potential, plus it seemed rather rushed, not to mention there are some theological holes. Regardless, this is a nigh spiritual masterpeace. (No, I didn't misspell that). The film runs 114 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles, Malibu, Big Bear Lake, Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Public Library, California.GRADE: A-
krotkaia
Great movie overall. I'm not a film critique, hence my layperson rating is perhaps not so valuable. But I enjoyed it a lot. I love Meg Ryan in other movies ("You've got mail", "Sleepless in Seattle", "Kate and Leopold"). Now that this latter movie has been released, I see that there's a lot of similarity between it, and City of Angels, in plot and characters. Anyway, I was amazed at how the filmmakers conveyed the idea of being unable to touch, smell, and taste, and feel the pleasures (and pains!) of life. And the transition to being a living man, who can feel fatigue, pain, and physical desire in Seth is pictured really powerfully. A straight 10 out of 10 for that! I also liked the moment when he is taking a shower in her cabin, and she is pedalling the bike and waving her arms like if she were an angel herself, or a bird. It's kind of surreal, you don't really know until her crash if that's actually happening, or it's just a metaphor. Moments such as this one make this movie really subtle. I like that. I also like the answer that another angel gives Seth when he asks: "Why did it happen? Am I being punished?" - "You know better than that. It's because you are living now." Fragile and unpredictable as human life is, the film has depicted it masterfully. Since then Russian filmmakers have tried to create a remake of this film, but it's not really as good. Anyway, I think this movie is one of the best films on this theme ever made, but as the viewer I feel a little dissatisfied with the abrupt ending after the angel's fall. I realize this is part of the overall plot, and otherwise we couldn't feel how swiftly their happiness had to end, but I felt that my hopes were betrayed. I wish I could see Maggie become an angel too after her death (I realize that a living woman, or man, cannot become an angel, that angels have never been human as stated in the movie, but still), or his dying and meeting her in heaven. But that's just me.
Byrdz
Another OK film. The concept is interesting. The shots of the black clothed angels all over the City Of Angels are cinematically impressive.I used to actually get the quinzies just watching Nicholas Cage but, I have learned to at least not hate him. It was difficult tho' because of all those extreme closeups of his carefully non-blinking eyes and non-smiling mouth. Romantic leading man ? Not quite ! Meg Ryan is her usual cute as a button self with a pretty nice curly haircut. It's a bit of a stretch to see her as a driven heart surgeon with personal issues.Best of the bunch character wise were Dennis Franz (he was the most believable and appealing character in the whole film) and Andre Braugher as another angel, friend and confidant of Cage.If you have not seen this one and have a spare couple of hours, it's worth a one time watch, imo.
jacklyn_lo
Gentle supernatural romance with sad end. In a few words, I would describe this movie as "human world vs angels city." An excellent implementation of the story, with intangible matters and thin entities in the movie. Great play of the main actors - Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan.The plot is based on the concept of Free Will, which allows any spiritual entity to make its own choice. Such a choice is done by Seth. Originally angel he started to desire to become a human due to his love for a woman. Seth got what he wanted, but his happiness wasn't long lasting. The love story ends tragically, revealing the non- perfect humans world for what it is and pointing out the big risks of having a human' existence.PS My dying husband was staring at something behind my left shoulder in the same manner as dying Meggie was watching behind Seth's shoulder. I was talking to him and he always looked at my face, but not that day. It was several hours before he was gone. I was curious what the entity was looking like, but I didn't ask. My intention was to encourage him for the transition to another world, but I was afraid that the entity had an awful appearance and I would spoil the last moments of his life by emphasizing on the matter. However, if "it" was looking like Seth- its not terrible at all and this gives me a release :).Thank you for the wonderful movie helping us to clarify a reality beyond the border!
AD
