CITY OF ANGELS

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 2 out of 5

Because of: sexual content, anti-religious elements

Rated:

I'm not going to try and explain how theologically wrong this film is. I'm just going to treat it as a piece of art. This is a movie in which angels are given the choice to "fall" to earth and become human if they so wish. There's no going back. Very few angels have ever done it. And their reasons for doing so are generally because they've fallen in love. If this derails you, you may as well stop now. Otherwise, it's a touching film.

Seth (Nicholas Cage) is an angel. He was spoken into existence before the creation of time itself. He has been in the presence of God, and gathers with all other angels at sunrise and sunset, to hear the voice of God in the golden light as it breaks over the horizon. Having never been human, he has never been able to feel the depth of human emotion: pain, fear, sorrow, love. Present in times of great sorrow and overwhelming joy, Seth desires to know more about mankind and the wonderful creation of free will. This leads him to Maggie (Meg Ryan). A successful surgeon who doubts the existence of a higher power, Maggie Rice is a self-confident, beautiful woman whose life is about to be shaken to its very core. After a successful operation with very little danger involved, her patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies. There's nothing she can do, but watch his heart stop within her fingertips. It is in that moment that she begins to realize that she does not control who lives or dies, but Someone else. Someone she has been running from for a long time.

Severely shaken, Maggie doubts her own ability to heal. But then she meets Seth, a handsome stranger who comes and goes with the wind. His words are always full of encouragement. But even as she searches to find herself and some meaning in her life, Seth discovers that he is falling in love. Distraught, he seeks out the advice of one who has taken the leap from angel to human. Nathaniel tells him that all one need do is will himself to a life as a human being, and fall from some high place. But this choice has its consequences: human frailty, fear, sorrow, pain... rejection. And he can never turn back.

Exquisitely filmed and with a memorable soundtrack, City of Angels has a profoundly moving charm despite its obvious flaws. The Bible tells us that angels cannot become human. In fact, the only angels ever to 'love' humans were cast from heaven. But the film did, at least, get some parts of the truth right. Angels are everywhere, all around us. They are guardians, protectors, defenders. They lead people to heaven after death, and encourage them in life. Dividing from tradition, these angels are all dressed in black. It makes a commanding statement; their presence is suddenly profound. To see them gathered on the shore, listening wholeheartedly to the song of the dawn, is moving.

With all its beauty, the film is flawed. It moves too slowly and is about a half hour too long. Profanity becomes a minor problem, along with nudity and implied sex. The scene is fairly lengthy and intense and involves suggestive dialogue as well as panning their upper bodies. I'd suggest fast-forwarding through if you should ever decide to see the film. (You'll have plenty of warning.) We see backside nudity as a man goes skinny dipping and again later, brief side nudity (no details) as a man showers. Maggie lives on and off with her boyfriend; they're shown snuggling a few times. While still an angel, Seth crawls into bed with Maggie and holds her until she falls asleep. (The single touching element about this is that it is divine grace that gives her rest; she never has slept completely through the night.) 

Jesus' name is abused at least four times, along with other profanities and suggestive dialogue. Violent content is kept to a minimum, although some thugs beat up a character and steal his shoes. Discovering that Seth cannot be wounded or even bleed, Maggie attempts to cut him several times. I am of the belief that all truth comes from God, and there is some element of truth in all things. For me, City of Angels was a forgivable film that didn't disturb me as greatly as I thought it would. It seems almost blasphemous to entertain oneself with a film in which an angel falls in love with a human, and gives up his immortality to be with her. Yet somehow, on some deep level, this film touched me. That's quite an accomplishment.