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City of angels - Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Andre Braugher, Brad Silberling

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Propaganda

How do angels spend their limitless days? Their job is to roam the Earth, listening to people's thoughts, celebrating their lives and deaths and comforting those in need - but they can't interfere in their fates. Angels are not, and never have been, human beings. Though they care deeply for humankind, they perceive the events, sensations and emotions of people's lives with a certain compassionate wonder.

But what happens if an angel yearns for the most everyday mortal experiences: to taste a pear, to cry, to feel the touch of a hand... to fall in love? And what would an angel be willing to give up for those experiences?

Conversely, what would make a rational mortal woman - a no-nonsense surgeon who firmly relies on her own earthly abilities - become drawn to a spiritual man whose very existence is almost impossible for her to accept? How would she have to change to understand him?

In City of angels, a story of romance and desire starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage and two-time Golden Globe nominee Meg Ryan, two souls, one mortal and one celestial, must struggle with their willingness - and finally, their need - to sacrifice everything familiar for the sake of love.

Persons of interest

Nicolas Cage .... Seth
Meg Ryan .... Maggie Rice
Andre Braugher .... Cassiel
Dennis Franz .... Nathaniel Messinger
Colm Feore .... Jordan
Robin Bartlett .... Anne
Joanna Merlin .... Teresa Messinger
Sarah Dampf .... Susan
Rhonda Dotson .... Susan's Mother
Dan Desmond .... Mr Balford
Deirdre O'Connell .... Mrs Balford
Wim Wenders .... Screenwriter: Der Himmel über Berlin
Peter Handke .... Screenwriter: Der Himmel über Berlin
Richard Reitinger .... Screenwriter: Der Himmel über Berlin
Dana Stevens .... Screenwriter
Brad Silberling .... Director

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

See Propaganda. Seriously.

The set-up is all there, you just have to allow a wee suspension of disbelief in the existence of angels and the perfection of the Christian god. Then reach for the tissues. Everything is adequately done - the camera work, the production values, the acting - but this was never going to be anything else but a chick flick tissue-puller. Which is not a bad thing, necessarily, but you have to be in the mood for it.

Nicolas Cage is confused and sensitive, Meg Ryan is hard but vulnerable, and they meet somewhere in between. Enjoy it for a cuddle on the couch with your other half, or if you don't have one, a large box of chocolates.

Security censorship classification

M (Low level sex scene)

Surveillance time

114 minutes (1:54 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 22 April 1999

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