This one almost snuck by us, but the ever elusive Super-Snooper sniffed and scored a screening of Cage and Ryan. All I know is that those two should be great together. Or at least that's my belief. I like both of them, and I'm a sucker for Meg (hey it's not my fault she fell for that unlikable lovable guy named Harry in that dang movie) Anyway, there are SPOILERS below, but I get the idea this film is more about the performances. Check it out, and GREAT WORK SUPER SNOOPER!!!
"CITY OF ANGELS"
As I sat in my seat, waiting for the picture to start, I heard rumors about Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan attending the screening. I thought, "Cage? Isn't Cage filming 'Snake Eyes' in Atlanta?"... Anyway, I don't think they showed.
Before going in, I hadn't heard too much about "City of Angels". All I knew was that Cage and Ryan starred in it, and that it was supposed to be a romantic comedy. Romantic comedy? Romantic comedy!? I don't think so. I mean, sure there's a few funny scenes, but for the most part, this film is a serious drama. A love story.
THE PREMISE: Nicolas Cage plays Seth Plate (Plate is a made up last name that he gives himself), who like other Los Angeles angels, wears a dark jacket, and takes a visit to the beach every morning to watch the sunset. Seth can't feel, he can only comfort. In the beginning of the film, we see him comforting a little girl as she dies, and then takes her on in to Heaven. He asks her, "What did you like best about life?", and she replies, "Pajamas".
As the story proceeds, Seth meets Anne (Meg Ryan), a troubled doctor who just lost a patient who she had pushed and pushed to save. And in a powerful scene, Anne stares right into Seth's big blue eyes (remember, angels can't been seen unless they want to be seen), which to say the least, startles him. "Can she see me?", he thinks.
So, Seth begins to watch Anne almost 24 hours a day. He slowly falls in love with her, admiring her spirit, her determination, and her passion for her job.
Later in the film, Seth allows himself to be seen by Anne, and they both fall in love. But again, Seth can't "feel." He can only comfort. That means there is only one solution: To fall as an angel and become human (an idea given to Seth by ex-angel-now human, Dennis Franz)... Will he do it? Will he sacrifice his comforting job of comforting people for a woman? Well, that is a question that will have to be answered when you go see the flick next year. I don't want to give away anymore.
THE PERFORMANCES: Nicolas Cage just makes you want to cry with those eyes of his. He talks with them. The man is brilliant in my opinion.
JUST A NOTE: In order to feel his character, Nic didn't blink his eyes once. I guess he figured angels are always watching.
How was the rest of the cast? Well, Meg Ryan was just fine. She gave a nice, sensitive performance, and Dennis Franz was a good comic relief.
DID I LIKE IT?
Yes, I did. It wasn't great, yet it wasn't poor. I liked the performances, I liked the twists, but it moved slow in a few spots, perticularly the middle.
My rating: *** out of ****
