CITY OF ANGELS

US, 1998, 198 minutes, Colour.
Nicholas Cage, Meg Ryan, Dennis Franz, Andre Braugher, Colm Feore.
Directed by Brad Silberling.


Angels have had a mixed history, especially in the way we imagine them, from Renaissance cherubs to ethereal 19th century spirits. For the last thirty years, both angels and devils have had prominent screen presence. It's all imagination and a lot of it corny or sentimental. But it does mean that the popular imagination responds to the idea and the feeling of having protective beings keeping a caring eye on us.

City of Angels is based on a film that European theologians with a penchant for cinema consider a masterpiece, Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire (1987). But when it is translated to the literal city of angles, LA, where the monuments are skyscrapers and billboards and all is bathed in a Hollywood glow, then the treatment is designed to tug at the heart strings. And with Nicolas Cage never so earnest as he is here, convincingly falling in love with surgeon Meg Ryan, who this time is sleepless in LA, almost like stalking her, then it is definitely romance time.

1. A romantic comedy? But serious in tone, intent, ending? The attraction of the stars?
2. An adaptation of Wim Wenders’ classic, Wings of Desire? The ideas, the tone and treatment? In contemporary Los Angeles? The strong difference between Los Angeles and Berlin?
3. The city of Los Angeles, its buildings, streets, beaches? The hospital, apartments? A realistic setting for this kind of fantasy? Musical score?
4. Audience response to angels, believing in them or not? In the religious sense? In the fantasy sense? Guardian angels, following people, helping them? The screenplay and its serious treatment, its belief in angels? Their interactions with people? But then not experiencing what it is to be human, the desire to become human, following and giving up the angelic state?
5. The image of the angels, male, dressed in black, seen as a group, the individuals? On the beach? Their sitting on the buildings, observing people? Following people, taking them after death? Not experiencing the human, not able to touch, wondering what being human was like? The possibilities of the plunge?
6. Nicholas Cage as Seth, his character, serious, talking with Cassiel, the missions, the dealings with people, the discussions about what it would be like to be human, Seth and his curiosity, his desire, Cassiel and his being cool about issues? Discussions throughout the film? The final discussion and Cassiel observing Seth becoming human?
7. Maggie, her character, attraction? Work as a doctor? Hard work, the surgery, her care, the supporting staff, the operation, her losing her patients? The effect on her?
8. A lonely life, the relationship with Jordan, love or simple support? His love for her, his concern, their encounters? His having to let her go?
9. Seth, seeing Maggie, the attraction? In the hospital corridors, her seeing him, puzzle, thinking him a doctor? The encounters, the discussions, the attraction?
10. Seth, his falling in love, letting himself be seen, the discussions with Maggie? The growing connection? His being present in her life, in the hospital, in the surgery? Love, but a kind of stalking?
11. The character of Nathaniel, his wife and her concern, in hospital, the surgery, his surviving? The discussions with Maggie, his regime? Wanting to eat? The discussions with Seth? The gradual realisation that he was an angel, who had taken the plunge, who had lived life, and loved? His explanations to Seth, encouraging him?
12. Seth, moving towards his final decision, on the roof, the hesitation, taking the plunge, on the street, his human experience, touch, sounds, taste?
13. Maggie and her breaking with Jordan? Meeting Seth? Her realising she was in love? The romantic times together?
14. At home, the sexual and sensual relationship, the nature of love? Her going out and the bike, the crash, her death? Audience response to this sudden development of the plot? Emotionally?
15. Seth, his grief, talking with Cassiel? His realisation that the short time with Maggie was worth taking the plunge?