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City of Angels (1998)

PG-13  |   |  Drama, Fantasy, Romance  |  10 April 1998 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 89,166 users   Metascore: 54/100
Reviews: 317 user | 109 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com

Inspired by the modern classic, Wings of Desire, City involves an angel (Cage) who is spotted by a doctor in an operating room. Franz plays Cage's buddy who somehow knows a lot about angels.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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Title: City of Angels (1998)

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 10 wins & 11 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Teresa Messinger
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Susan
Rhonda Dotson ...
Susan's Mother
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Doctor
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Man in Car
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Woman in Car
Christian Aubert ...
Foreign Visitor in Car
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Air Traffic Controller
...
Jimmy, Anesthesiologist
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Storyline

Seth is an angel who accompanies the spirits of the recently dead to the ever after. Seth has never been human and so has has never experienced touch or taste. When in the hospital however he comes across Dr. Maggie Rice, a brilliant young heart surgeon who is devoted to her profession and her patients. Seth has the power to let himself be seen but Maggie finds him far too mysterious. Seth also meets a patient, Nathaniel Messinger, who has news for him - he too was once an angel like Seth but chose to fall to Earth and become human. Seth makes a decision on his future, which does not turn out as he had expected. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexuality including language, and some nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Un ángel enamorado  »

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$15,369,048 (USA) (10 April 1998)

Gross:

$78,745,923 (USA) (28 August 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The sequence in the library with an old man reading a Hemingway's book is a nod to the Wings of Desire (1987). In it Curt Bois plays Homer, an aged poet that his poethical thoughts are read by Damiel some times. See more »

Goofs

The time on a clock in the kitchen. See more »

Quotes

Seth: Let's go somewhere.
Maggie: Where?
Seth: I don't care.
Maggie: What do you wanna do?
Seth: Anything.
See more »

Connections

Featured in David Walliams' Awfully Good: Awfully Good Movies (2011) See more »

Soundtracks

Red House
Written and Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets
See more »

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User Reviews

Are You in Despair?
17 January 2000 | by See all my reviews

A very different look at the world of angels and their interaction with human beings. If this were a story about the devil, IMDB would have plenty of comments so I am not surprised to read so many negative ones.

I don't believe that angels wear black, but I do believe in the premise of this movie: "sometimes things are true whether you believe in them or not."

Meg Ryan, a very unlikely choice, was thoroughly believable as an obsessive-compulsive doctor who never sleeps. When she loses a patient for the first time, she cries bitterly and cannot understand how it could have happened--all witnessed by Nicolas Cage as Seth, an angel who was sent to escort her patient to heaven. Cage allows himself to be seen by Ryan in a hospital corridor and sweetly asks, "Are you in despair?" This entire conversation sweeps the women in the audience into their evolving relationship. Yes, I guess this is definitely a woman's movie.

Others in lesser roles were quite good. Dennis Franz nails the part of a former angel who has "fallen to earth." (I do not watch his television show so this was the first time I have seen him act--I was impressed.) Andre Braugher, formerly of Homicide (a show I did watch), was terrific as Seth's closest angel friend, although he had very few lines, as usual Braugher was effective. His smile at the end of the movie stays with you.


23 of 42 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Good 'cry' films jussayin
Why does the angels gather in library? aylina-m
question about the ending/possible flaw? fire_ice8000
I've asked this before...maybe I'm just dense Foxsrus1
You know you've seen City of Angels too many times if... flour-girl
Musical score (soundtrack) karen526
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