City of Angels (1998)

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1. 

   Camille Deadpan

   I never understood why they used such a beautiful song - If God will send his angels - in the movie just when Dennis Franz puts junk food in his mouth. 10 years 9 months ago
2. 

   danisanna

   It's a bit boring tbh. 1 year 4 months ago
3. 

   Siskoid

   What would the Hollywood version of Wim Wenders' meditative Wings of Desire be like? It's a thing that exists and it's perhaps no surprise (especially in the 90s) that City of Angels should follow a romcom formula. Not that it's funny, or trying to be, but making it a Meg Ryan vehicle and pushing the romance above all else is reductive. Many elements of Wings of Desire remain - the library, for example - but in no way is City as bold as the original. Los Angeles is used instead of Berlin, but it's not much more than a pun. Nic Cage's angel gets to experience life (in what seems like a fourth act), but it's all about love, love, tragic love. The ending is very manipulative and feels manufactured. If you've never seen Wings, you may well enjoy it for what it is. If you have, it tries its best, but it's trapped in an undemanding formula. Still, the leads are watchable (Cage is mostly restrained), Ryan always rather underrated. Dennis Franz is quite good as their guide. And it's pretty cool to see Andre Braugher and Nick Offerman as young actors (the latter in a bit part). 2 years ago

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