City Of Angels Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.
What if angels walked amoung us, and one of them fell in love with us?
Angels are among us and when we feel an invisible presence, you better believe they are watching you. For a Los Angeles heart surgeon named Maggie, that is too much of a stretch. She believes that it is her job to save the lifes of her patients and when she meets Seth after visiting hours are over, he tells her it's simply just their time to go. She becomes intrigued by his presence and opinion. Seth is not just normal, he is an Angel. He meets Messinger while visiting patients. Messinger can see him because he was once a Angel but gave his power up to become human. This makes Seth want to become human so he can feel, smell, and love Maggie.
| Nicolas Cage | Seth |
| Meg Ryan | Maggie Rice |
| Andre Braugher | Cassiel |
| Dennis Franz | Nathaniel Messinger |
| Colm Feore | Jordan Ferris |
| Robin Bartlett | Anne |
| Joanna Merlin | Teresa Messinger |
| Sarah Dampf | Susan |
| Rhonda Dotson | Susan's Mother |
| Nigel Gibbs | Doctor |
| John Putch | Man in Car |
| Lauri Johnson | Woman in Car |
| Christian Aubert | Foreign Visitor in Car |
| Jay Patterson | Air Traffic Controller |
| Shishir Kurup | Jimmy, Anesthesiologist |
| Brad Silberling |
6.20 out of 10 (17420 votes)
Visitor Reviews
City of Angels
posted on 06 Aug 2009Angel Movies always seem to be a popular theme. This angel flick is about an angel named Seth. He falls for women named Maggie Rice, immortals falling for mortals is another theme thought a number of times. The problem with the relationship between Seth and Maggie is that Maggie is getting married to another doctor named Robert. To get her he gets the help of an ex-angel and must test his will. The movie is interesting, kind of stylish, and also tacky plus boring but ok. I give this movie 3 1/2 out of 5. Rated PG.
Deeply Moving. It will attach itself to your heart.
posted on 19 Jun 2009I had been told to be careful watching this one. A good friend said to me "Kristen, you're gonna cry...for weeks." Meg Ryan as Maggie, the mildly self-absorbed heart surgeon, faces the ever prominent question.."What are we here for?", when she loses a patient and "sees" Seth (Nicolas Cage), the angel who's come to take him "home". Suddenly Maggie is faced with her own mortality and her self confidence is shattered. On the flipside, Seth, and angel who keeps a journal about "humans", is faced with desires he never gave thought to before. The desire for Maggie to "see" him, and more importantly...to experience touch and love. Dennis Franz as the appropriately named, Mr. Messenger, is the one who explains to Seth his ability to choose. Franz is great in this role and gives this film several lighthearted moments....including a fine fanny shot at the beach. This movie is profoundly deep and thoughts of life choices, what would have been's, and grief will sit with you for quite awhile. I truly recommend this movie to all...men included.
Was it sad, romantic or silly?
posted on 01 Jun 2009Spoiler Alert! The city of angels is all about a doctor falling in love with a angel. When watch it its good but there are somethings you cant explain. For example why does he know less about the world when hes been on it the longest cause he can't die, why does she not move when she sees the lorry or where does he live when she dies. These are some silly things you ask but some movie fanatics probably could explain. The sex scene is abit over the top. Who would talk like that but thats what makes the movie so romantic. Nicolas Cage is a great actor and Meg Ryan plays this part well to. This movie may make you think is there really angels everywhere? If there are i hope they don't watch me in the shower or naked at any other time!!!
I am always surprised by how much I love this movie...
posted on 29 May 2009Wings of Desire is one of my favourite films of all time. A slow lyrical tale of a love that has no boundaries. City of Angels does it justice I think. It makes LA look gorgeous, no mean feat, with the soaring camera-work and slow pace of life not usually associated with that city. Nic Cage and Meg Ryan have wonderful chemistry, vital to the story and even though I know what is coming I just can't turn it off. And let's not forget Dennis Franz in the role originally played by Peter Falk and Andre Breugher as the almost cynical Heavenly Being. Music in the sunrise, what an amazing concept. I can't be in a library reading in my mind without thinking someone might be listening. Brilliant re-visioning of a great film.
Beautiful film
posted on 23 May 2009This film always brings a tear to my eye. Yes, I'm a guy, I can cook, I clean my own clothes, and no, I'm not gay! This is one of those films when asked to descibe true love fits the bill perfectly. Who else but someone in real love would give up an eternity for "one smell of her hair" I agree with some other posters that Maggie's death was a little lame - I ride a mountain bike and would never dream of 30 seconds eyes closed down a winding mountain road, and would certainly have heard a 10 litre diesel truck from 100 yards away, but guys, play this movie with some chick you're desperate to get to know better and she'll be in your arms crying her eyes out too ;o)
"He gave these bozos the greatest gift on Earth, do you think he didn't give it to us too. Free will brother. Free will."
posted on 08 Apr 2009This is one film I wouldn't normally watch but being a fan of Nicolas Cage I decided to give it a chance. This is one of the most moving flicks I have ever seen and anyone with a heart would find this movie one of the most emotional.Based on Wim Wenders 'Wings of Desire', C.O.A. follows the story of an angel called Seth (Nic Cage) who falls in love with a heart surgeon Maggie (Meg Ryan). When she loses one of her patients, she finds it difficult to accept. During the failed op, Seth appears and Maggie looks right at him. This is when Seth falls for her and decides to make himself and his feelings known to her.There are some scenes that people would say that has happened to them on an emotional level, ie feeling of hurt due to rejection, losing someone close to you unexpectedly, knowing that there's a chance you can never be with someone you feel something for.Performance wise, there are two standout characters in the film. Nic Cage as Seth, who is soft and sympathetic and who you can genuinely feel for and the other is Dennis Franz who has some great secret.This movie is an emotional ride and is a great one to watch.
Haunting Tear-jerker
posted on 21 Mar 2009I love the atmosphere cast by this film. The black costumes are brilliant. Nicholas Cage is so believable as Seth that you are certain he projects an aura. Meg Ryan gives one of her best performances as the woman of his dreams. They go well together. The dialogue about death and the afterlife is wonderful. I enjoy Seth's discovery of what it's like to be human. Cassiel & Messinger are also well played. The music gets into your soul especially "Iris" & "I Grieve." You have to weep. 10/10
Cage does hopelessly in love or something
posted on 03 Mar 2009City of Angels is one of those movies which get made because girls like to cry profusely when the hero or heroine dies and will pay good money to do so. Nicholas Cage spends the film with a sort of soulful pain etched on his face and Meg Ryan is, well she's Meg Ryan isn't she, not much change there then. I came out of the film feeling manipulated, I'm not adverse to sobbing over a hero or for that matter a heroine, but not when that's what the film set out to do.
Outstanding Meg Ryan, made me laugh and cry like a child!!!
posted on 13 Feb 2009This is a fantasy movie, brought to our daily and ordinary lives. It makes
you wanna feel, touch, taste and smell everything like never before. It's
sweet and tender, you'll love the characters and their lines. Beautiful
photography, ideal soundtrack. Really outstanding Meg Ryan's perfomance.
She and her beloved guardian angel will make you cry and laugh like a child!!! Unforgettable scenes... You will want this movie at home!!!
One of the worst movies ever made
posted on 05 Jan 2009It's as if Ed Wood were given a $50 million budget. To say this is an insult to Wim Wenders original 'Wings of Desire' would be an understatement. I think he should sue Hollywood for butchering a work of art (though obviously it wouldn't be the first time). Though I think Nicholas Cage is one of the worst actors in Hollywood, this has to rank as one of the worst performances of all time. To paraphrase Shakespeare, the whole thing 'stinketh to Heaven'.
superlative
posted on 21 Dec 2008As i watched Seth & Cassiel, tell me what life was like being an angel, it occurred to me that it was like any job... tough and demanding. yet, as it played on, Seth obviously understood that it lacked something. I think the message was clear. Its great to be human!! I've never cried in a movie..and i didnt this time either BUT it was a good try.
Touching movie...
posted on 15 Dec 2008Okay, I had been wanting to see this movie for ages, so I finally rented it and watched it all by my lonesome. I love the actors in this film, so that was a point for it already. And I have this obsession with angels, so I loved the little tidbits of information the screenwriter wrote in (ie meeting at sunrise and sunset on the beach), and I even bought the soundtrack before I saw the movie (great track, by the way; after seeing the movie, I understand the lyrics to Iris perfectly). And while it could be considered slow at times, I think it was worth it. The ending wasn't what I expected, and although it wasn't the perfect ending, in a way, it fit the movie perfectly. You don't know what's gonna happen until about 2 minutes before it actually does, and that's only if you're thinking about it. The cinematography was great, the sets were amazing...all in all, I liked the movie a lot. But that's just me.
Wonderful movie
posted on 12 Dec 2008I really liked the movie. It's a nice tale, the fall of an angel, giving up immortality for love (no matter how brief that love may be).I leave it for the critics to say whether the actors were good, how was the plot and all that, but for my part, it is one of the most nicest movies I've seen. I advise you see it also. And if the story is not interesting enough, the two actors should make time pass more quickly. For my part, both actors were very credible (I found their acting very good and deep), and made the story seem more real, however fantastic it may seem. Another plus: great soundtrack. Gabriel Yared's songs are simply wonderful. Trust me, you will not regret seeing this movie.
Strange, and could have been more.
posted on 30 Nov 2008I enjoyed City of Angels, but only for the first hour. The Angels themselves are very well done, believable (if one can say Angels are believable), and have a real identity about them. Somehow I felt that the storyline was lacking, but can't really put my finger on as to what it was.
It seems that there could have been so much more in this film, instead we really concentrate on the simplicity of the love story, without tackling what I personally feel was the controversial question that the film should have raised. Why do people die, who decides, and is it out of our hands or can we influence it. At one point it is indicated that we have free will, and that the Angels can not change situation, only affect it by bringing calm and kindness to people. That contradicts the question the film begins with; where Meg Ryan's character is unable to save a man's life, even though she did everything correctly at the operation table. What the film did get across very well was how humans, most of the time, do not appreciate the miracle of being human and how the little things do matter and could bring us so much more enjoyment. If I take anything away from this film is to value more some of the day to day things in our lives we take for granted.
I remember when I saw this film in the movie theater that it moved me to much greater extent when seeing it on TV. Seeing it second time did not affect me or move me half as much as the first time, only relieved to me what it lacks. 7/10
One of cinema's true treasures
posted on 15 Nov 2008There have been few films which have had such a touching story as 'City Of Angels'. With it's haunting music, lovely and tragic story, wonderful acting, and beautiful filming, 'City Of Angels' may just be one of the best films made in this past 20 years.The purity of Seth's love for Maggie was something I think everyone wishes they could have, even if it'd only be briefly there once in their lives. For Seth to give up eternity just to be with Maggie one time was just beautiful, even though it was really sad.The filming for this was wonderful. I absolutely love how it was shot; the angles, the lighting, the colors, the locations, everything was perfect in portraying the story and bringing out the real beauty within this film.I think a lot of people will agree with me when I say that the music really worked in 'City Of Angels'. "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls and "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan were some of the main highlights, but even the instrumental music was breath-takingly beautiful. The soundtrack for 'City Of Angels' is one of those movie soundtracks that everyone should just get, it's wonderful and really worth a listen.All I can really say about 'City Of Angels' is that it's got one of the best stories, best filming, and best music in any movie from the past 20 years. This movie will have you wanting to watch it over and over, despite how sad it is. It's just too good to not enjoy.
Interesting ...
posted on 15 Nov 2008This was a very interesting and enjoyable movie. I chose it because I like Nick Cage (and almost didn't 'cause I'm not big on Meg Ryan). It reminds me of a host of old B&W movies I saw as a kid, but modernized and better done.
I am surprised that no Commentors mentioned "The Bishop's Wife" (or its pale remake, "The Preacher's Wife"). Cage does a great job as an angel suddenly taken with a mortal woman. Ryan holds her own, but never really really engenders the kind of woman one would give up an eternally sublime existence for.SPOILER ALERT! Minor concerns:As an angel, being in the death business, would Seth not have some inkling that Maggie was not long for this world? And why are the angels so poorly dressed? I rarely see foreign films and tire of folks always insisting they are better than the American product. Take a look at this product, which is slick and professional, and elicits all the audience emotion it sets out to, with a cast that excel in their craft and beautiful cinematography and scoring. A good way to spend two hours.
One of my favorite movies
posted on 01 Oct 2008My husband and I saw this movie together in a hotel room in Reno the first time we saw it and this was before we were married. This movie has everything, beautiful cinematography, romance, a wonderful plot, and a point that makes you glad to be alive and remember to live life to the fullest.
If you have never seen this movie I highly recommend it, it's a pleasant surprise. My husband and I still watch it every chance we get.
I want to throw up
posted on 12 Aug 2009OKay this movie was terrible. Nicholas Cage sounded like he was being choked the whole time, and Meg Ryan was so pixie-like i wanted to shoot her. Cage wasn't beautiful or heavenly at all, he seemed more psycho and creepy if anything.And was i mistaken..were all the angels men??? There wasn't an ounce of chemistry between Ryan and Cage, and i actually didn't feel sorry for either of them at the end (The cheesy end!)