Other Titles • City of Angels • Stadt der Engel (1998)
Synopses for City of Angels (1998)
1.
Some critics complained that City of Angels could never compare to Wim Wenders's exquisite German film Wings of Desire, which served as the later film's primary inspiration. The better argument to make is that any such comparisons are beside the point, because Wings of Desire was a much more deeply poetic, artfully contemplative film, whereas City of Angels is an enchanting product of mainstream Hollywood. Meg Ryan stars as Dr. Maggie Rice, a heart surgeon who is grieving over a lost patient when an angel named Seth (Nicolas Cage) appears to comfort her. She can see him despite the "rule" that angels are invisible, and Seth's love for Maggie forces him to choose between angelic immortality and a normal human existence on earth with her. Featuring heavenly roles for TV veterans Andre Braugher and Dennis Franz, the film liberally borrows imagery from Wings of Desire, but it also creates its own charming identity. Cage and Ryan give fine performances as lovers convinced they are soul mates, and although the plot relies on a last-minute twist that doesn't quite work, this earnest love story struck a chord with audiences and proved to be one of the surprise hits of 1998. The Special Edition widescreen DVD includes audio commentary by Nicolas Cage, producer Charles Roven, and director Brad Silberling in addition to deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a featurette about the film's special effects, and the theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon
2.
Based in part on Wim Wenders' 1988 film Wings of Desire, this is the story of Seth (Cage), an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their traveling companion during their trip to the great hereafter. His discovery of distraught heart surgeon Maggie (Ryan) inspires him to forego his immortality and exist on earth with her as a feeling and mortal entity.
3.
She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.
What if angels walked among us, and one of them fell in love with one of us? Nicolas Cage is Seth, an angel who must decide if he'll forsake his immortality and become human--on the chance that the woman of his dreams might love him. That woman is Maggie (Meg Ryan), a pragmatic heart surgeon who doesn't believe in angels...until she meets Seth. Will love be their mutual destiny? Will they take the risks that shape that destiny? The choice is theirs to make.
Mooviees.com is not the official site for this film.
All editorial views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only.
Movie Database
In Theaters
