City of Angels [VHS]
Some critics complained thatCity of Angelscould never compare to Wim Wenders's exquisite German filmWings of Desire, which served as the later film's primary inspiration. The better argument to make is that any such comparisons are beside the point, becauseWings of Desirewas a much more deeply poetic, artfully contemplative film, whereasCity of Angelsis an enchanting product of mainstream Hollywood. Meg Ryan stars as Dr. Maggie Rice, a heart surgeon who is grieving over a lost patient when an angel named Seth (Nicolas Cage) appears to comfort her. She can see him despite the "rule" that angels are invisible, and Seth's love for Maggie forces him to choose between angelic immortality and a normal human existence on earth with her. Featuring heavenly roles for TV veterans Andre Braugher and Dennis Franz, the film liberally borrows imagery fromWings of Desire, but it also creates its own charming identity. Cage and Ryan give fine performances as lovers convinced they are soul mates, and although the plot relies on a last-minute twist that doesn't quite work, this earnest love story struck a chord with audiences and proved to be one of the surprise hits of 1998.--Jeff Shannon