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City of Angels
1998 114 min Germany, United States of America PG-13 18+
★7.1
Romance, Drama, Fantasy
Director: Brad Silberling
🎭 Based on
«Wings of Desire»
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
When a guardian angel – who invisibly watches over the citizens of Los Angeles – becomes captivated by a strong-willed heart surgeon, he ponders trading in his pure, otherworldly existence for a mortal life with his beloved. The couple embarks on a tender but forbidden romance spanning heaven and Earth.
Budget:
$55M
US Gross:
$78.69M
Worldwide:
$198.69M
Starring
Nicolas Cage
Actor
Meg Ryan
Actor
Andre Braugher
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Fantasy Film
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 1999
— Best Original Song
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Supporting Actor
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1999
— Best Original Song
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1999
— Best On-Screen Duo
Key opinion
City of Angels is widely regarded as a visually and aurally stunning romantic drama that effectively explores existential themes regarding the beauty of human sensory experience. While fans praise the lead performances and the film's emotional depth, detractors often compare it unfavorably to its source material, 'Wings of Desire,' citing weaker character motivations and melodramatic execution.
| Cinematography | The film excels in creating a mesmerizing, poetic atmosphere through its high-quality cinematography and the iconic soundtrack. | |
| Acting | Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan deliver strong, compelling performances that anchor the romantic narrative and convey deep emotional vulnerability. | |
| Theme | The narrative effectively provokes existential reflection on the value of human life, sensory pleasure, and the weight of mortality. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by some as thoughtful and poignant, while others find the characters' motivations and the logic of their romance poorly developed. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions are divided on its status as an adaptation: some critics appreciate it as a respectful, standalone romantic work, while others dismiss it as an inferior, overly sentimental remake of 'Wings of Desire.' | |
| Ending | The film's ending is polarizing; some viewers find the final sequence beautiful and narratively profound, whereas others perceive it as rushed or lacking thematic closure. |