MICHAEL
US, 1996, 105 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, William Hurt, Andie Mac Dowell, Bob Hoskins, Jean Stapleton, Robert Pastorelli, Teri Garr.
Directed by Nora Ephron.
Michael is the archangel, but not the hero in shining armour. Rather, he is a more ordinary character, with a few human foibles and defects. And he looks like John Travolta. There have been quite a few fantasies about angels (with Denzel Washington soon to come). There is the touch of the nice and sentimental with them as they come to earth, generally to fix up human relationships. This time Michael is bringing William Hurt as a National Enquirer type of journalist (and more vigorous than in his recent performances) and Andie Mac Dowell. Travolta gives it his best shot and he has a certain charm but it is all like a bit of fluff from an angels wingtips.
1.The popularity of the film? John Travolta? Stories about angels?
2.The film described as a fable - or `a religious counter-fable' with a different kind of archangel?
3.The background of the Midwest, the country town, way of life, Pansy and her home? On the road in the Midwest? The humour of the world's largest...? The contrast with Chicago and the newspaper offices? A cross-section of American life?
4.The musical score, the songs both new and old? The dancing - especially with John Travolta and the women in the diner?
5.The focus on Michael - audience knowledge of and response to the archangel? Audience interest in angels in the '90s? New-age belief? This presentation of Michael as a counter to the popular visuals of angels? John Travolta first appearance as a pot-bellied slovenly slob angel - with wings? His smoking, drinking, swearing? Relationships with women? Yet his being a saviour figure? Come down from Heaven? Comparisons with the long history of angels in movies?
6.The background of the National Mirror, the scandal sheet? Mort and his sleazy attitudes? The reporters? Wanting the stories? Sending Frank on the mission, sending Dorothy to supervise him? Wanting to take over Sparky, the canine mascot for the paper? Mort wanting to claim Sparky? His urging them on in their investigation? Their return and saying that the story was a hoax? Moort’s reaction? Mort claiming the dog - and Frank and Dorothy quitting? The film's comment on National Enquirer types of papers? The character of Mort?
7.Pansy and her letter to National Mirror? Talking about the angel living in her house? Her story, the introduction to Michael? Her sudden death? Her later appearance with Michael as the two of them bring Frank and Dorothy together?
8.Frank and his work as a journalist? His cynicism? His past career? Dorothy and Huey having to go with him? The mission to check out the story? The initial reaction to Pansy, to Michael? The journey back to Chicago, going by car and the experience in the car, the experience in the bar? In jail, the judge? His wanting to stop Michael going to see the world's largest this or that? The rescue by the auto mechanic? Going off to the restaurant, sampling the pies? His response to Dorothy, her country and western song? Frank and Dorothy together? Sparky's death? Frank's learning the truth about Dorothy, his telling Mort about the hoax, his disgust and his leaving the paper? His seeing and hearing echoes of angels? Glimpsing Michael, in the street, bumping into Dorothy? Happy ever after with Dorothy?
9.Dorothy, her work on the paper, alleged expert in angelology? With Frank and the team, in the house, Pansy and Michael? Her wariness? The trip back, the bar, in jail? The attraction towards Frank? The restaurant, the pies? Her ambitions of being a singer, performing her song? The attraction towards Frank and their relationship? Her telling the truth, being a dog trainer, being sent to look after Sparky? Her following Michael, bumping into Frank - and the happy ever after? Predestined by God and the angels?
10.Huey, his owning of Sparky, his being part of the team to check out the truth? Sparky, the mascot, his being used by Mort? Sparky's being run over? Michael bringing him back to life?
11.Michael and his incarnation as an American slob? Genial slob? His behaviour around the house? Going on the trip - wanting to see the world's largest ball of twine? His going to the bar, attracting the women, the dance routine? The men and the fight? In jail? In the court, the judge, her responding to Michael? His bursting the tyre because he wanted to see the world's largest non-stick frying pan? The lift from the auto mechanic, going to the restaurant, the pies? Dorothy's song? The seduction of the waitress? Michael and his powers leaving him, bringing the dog back to life after its accident? Nearing Chicago, his collapse, death, vanishing? His appearing in the street, leading Frank? Leading Dorothy? Michael and Pansy looking at the success of their mission?
12.The popularity of films about divine interventions, about benign angels? John Travolta as a counter-angel figure of the '90s? Angels being `regular guys'?
