A Study of the film "City of Angels"

Continuing on with our study of organic films, we'll look at "City of Angels". It's a 1998 romantic drama, is a remake of the film Himmel über Berlin, Der (Wings of Desire, 1987). It's a story of sacrifice and love. It's a fine example of an organic film, and one of my personal favorites.

It begins with Seth, an angel, comes to collect a soul from the emergency room where Maggie works as a surgeon. Seth falls in love with her from first sight. The problem is that she doesn't believe in angels. It is here that our story begins.

The conflict lies in the incredible relationship that develops between Seth and Maggie. When he discovers that she is his one true love, he's faced with a serious problem to overcome. Should he give up his blessed position in heaven, become a mortal if only to spend one day with the one he loves? Or would it be best to stay as an angel of the Lord?

I won't go any farther only because I'd rather not give away any details of the movie for those who have not seen it. I will say that this is a beautiful love story, one that makes you think. It begs the question to all of us: How much are you willing to sacrifice in order to be with your one true love? Even deeper than that is how do you know if the one you're with is worth giving up everything? It certainly gave me a moment or two of reflection on my personal life.

I will grant you that the film is based on a supernatural theme, and for some may require theatrical conventions. However if you concentrate on the main plot, you won't have a hard time accepting those far fetched ideas. The movie is beautifully constructed. The story flows so easily from one scene to the next. The story is almost surreal. It gives you an emotional sensation really, like you're a part of the story. This goes back to the questions that the movie brings up, the ones that cause you to question yourself. It's those very ideas that pull you in and get you involved with the characters.

Speaking of characters, the passion between Seth and Maggie is the most intense. Meg Ryan always appears on the surface very light and bubbly, but she always manages to surprise me with her moving performances. Nicholas Cage has done his fair share of odd ball characters in his day, however this role suited him perfectly. You could feel his every emotion jump out at you off the screen. Dennis Franz plays a dramatic role in NYPD Blue, but this was his best role yet. He played his role organically to the story. Last, but certainly not least, is André Braugher. I'm not familiar with his work at all. I can tell you though that after seeing this movie, I want to see more of him! He is simply fantastic. He plays more of a supporting role, but is not overpowering. He supports the main character with a memorable performance without taking the stage.

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