--- title: "City of Angels: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/city-of-angels/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/city-of-angels" critics_score: 51 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # City of Angels (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 51 from 9 reviews: 1 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, and the consensus settles on a mixed verdict. Where critics agree is on the look of the thing: nearly everyone admires the camerawork and Silberling’s visual style, which several describe as graceful or otherworldly. The leads draw consistent praise too, Nicolas Cage’s nuanced performance in particular, with Meg Ryan singled out even by critics who dislike the film around her. The reservations cluster on sentiment and on the source. Several critics find the second half schematic and the ending too sweet, and the comparison with Wings of Desire rarely flatters the remake, which more than one reviewer calls hollow beside the original. The spread is wide. Variety stands alone in recommending it outright, while Eye for Film and The AV Club dismiss it as schmaltzy and conventional. Notably, the harshest reviews arrive years after release, once the comparison has had time to settle. ## Variety — Emanuel Levy Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 1998. The critic finds it a lyrical, thoughtfully crafted romance, though its ending becomes excessively sentimental. He especially praises Nicolas Cage’s nuanced performance and the film’s graceful visual style. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/city-of-angels-2-1200453464/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 1998. Turan finds the film a fascinating but conflicted hybrid, whose appeal depends on viewers’ willingness to embrace its romantic fantasy. He praises the leads’ performances and the film’s otherworldly visual style, while faulting its schematic second half. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-10-ca-37768-story.html) ## The New York Times — Stephen Holden Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 1998. The page could not be read, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/10/movies/film-review-heaven-he-s-from-heaven-but-his-heart-beats-so.html) ## Radio Times — Joanna Berry Rating 3/5. Berry finds the Hollywood remake largely avoids becoming overly sentimental. She praises its soundtrack and describes the film as winning and moving. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ax9unz/city-of-angels/) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). The review appears mixed but appreciative of the film’s craft. It singles out the elegant direction and luscious camerawork, while its opening questions the premise of remaking Wings of Desire. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/city-of-angels) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review finds the romance affecting but weighed down by melodrama and philosophical digressions. It praises the lead performances and Silberling’s fresh eye, while noting the story’s slow stretches. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/city-angels-review/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 2/5. 19 June 1998. The critic finds the film enchanting at first but ultimately hollow and disappointing, especially compared with its source. They praise its beautiful cinematography and Meg Ryan’s performance, while faulting its loss of the original’s sophistication. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/city-of-angels-review/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 23 April 2002. Phipps finds the film an unsuccessful, overly conventional romance that fails to make its story engaging. He singles out Dennis Franz’s lively scenes and the occasional striking image as bright spots. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/city-of-angels-1798197351) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2001. The critic strongly dislikes the film, calling it a schmaltzy and overpolished remake. They single out Meg Ryan’s decency as a redeeming quality. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/city-of-angels-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/city-of-angels.md