Angel Eyes (film)

Angel Eyes is a 2001 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki and starring Jennifer Lopez, Jim Caviezel, Sônia Braga, Terrence Howard, and Jeremy Sisto. Written by Gerald Di Pego, the film is about a mysterious man who finds himself drawn to a female police officer with whom he forms a relationship that helps each to deal with trauma from their past. The original music score was composed by Marco Beltrami. The film received ALMA Award Nominations for Outstanding Actress (Jennifer Lopez) and Outstanding Director (Luis Mandoki). Angel Eyes was released by Morgan Creek Productions, Inc. (through Warner Bros. Pictures) on May 18, 2001. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $29.7 million against a $38 million budget.

Plot

One night in Chicago, police officer Sharon Pogue is at the scene of a traffic accident holding the hand of one of the victims, pleading that he hold on and not give up. One year later, Sharon has become estranged from her family for having her father arrested after he beat her mother. He and her brother have never forgiven her.

A man known only as "Catch" wanders the streets in a trance-like state, doing good deeds for strangers and neighbors. He eventually watches Sharon at a diner from across the street. A car pulls up and opens fire on the diner with a machine gun, Sharon and her partner chase after the suspects. She catches up with one gunman and in the ensuing struggle, he gets her gun. He prepares to shoot her in the head, but Catch tackles him.

That night, Sharon and Catch meet at a tavern and have a drink. During their conversation, he refuses to talk about himself. Sharon invites him to her apartment, and they eventually kiss. Catch abruptly stops and leaves the apartment, leaving her confused.

The next evening, Sharon finds a dandelion taped to her mailbox with Catch's phone number. She calls and invites him to breakfast at a coffee shop the next morning. When Sharon wakes up, she has second thoughts and calls Catch to cancel their date.

Catch is already at the coffee shop and never gets the message. Upset at being stood up, he confronts Sharon at her apartment before storming off. She follows him to his nearly empty apartment. Surprised at his living conditions, she demands to know more about him, but Catch refuses to reveal anything about his past. He only says that he is starting "from scratch".

Following the advice of a woman called Elanora, Catch calls Sharon to apologize, and they continue seeing each other. They eventually have sex. One night they go to a blues club, and after the band has played a number, Catch notices a trumpet on the bandstand.

Catch picks up the trumpet and starts to play a soulful version of the tune "Nature Boy". As they are leaving, the owner approaches him, calling him "Steve Lambert", and asks where he has been. Catch denies even knowing the man and walks away.

The next day, Sharon investigates Steven Lambert in the police files and discovers that he is the man whose hand she held after the traffic accident, and that his wife and child died in the accident. She goes to the house he abandoned after the accident, learning that he was a jazz musician and that the accident occurred on his son's birthday, causing Catch to create a mental block.

Wanting to help Catch heal from his emotional wounds, Sharon tries to talk to him about the accident and takes him to the cemetery to see the graves of his family, but he gets upset and walks away. She visits Elanora, who is actually Catch's former mother-in-law. Sharon is looking for some way of helping Catch; Elanora encourages patience, telling her that he will find his way in his own time.

At her parents' wedding vow renewal ceremony, Sharon tries talking to her father, who tells her that he feels like he does not have a daughter. While starting to leave, she stops and tells the videographer a story about her father playing with her and her brother when they were children. Sharon is moved by this memory. Her father overhears and is also emotionally affected, but when Sharon looks at him, he turns away.

Meanwhile, Catch finally goes to the cemetery and talks to his deceased family, explaining how he remembers the moments they shared. While leaving the reception, Sharon sees him waiting by her car. They embrace and profess their love for each other. As they prepare to leave, Catch tells her that he will drive.

Cast

Production

Filming

Principal photography started on May 8, 2000, and finished in early August that same year. Aaron Eckhart was cast as Steven "Catch" Lambert but left a month before filming began.

Filming locations

Angel Eyes was filmed in the following locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA
Elora, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Although the story is set in Chicago, several very clear shots of the Toronto skyline, including Toronto's very recognizable CN Tower, appear in the film, along with other recognizable Toronto landmarks, such as the Honest Ed's storefront, the Sam the Record Man neon light and a TTC streetcar. The scenes in and around Sharon's parents home were filmed at the Playter Farmhouse, an historic building near Danforth Avenue in Toronto. Some scenes were filmed in the village of Elora, Ontario, at Elora Gorge.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its theatrical release, Angel Eyes received negative reviews. On the review aggregator web site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 32% positive rating from critics based on 133 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Though the earlier part of the movie suggested something more, the movie turns out to be nothing more than a schmaltzy romance." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B-" on an A+ to F scale.

In his review in the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert gave the film three of four stars and applauding the performance of Jennifer Lopez, whom he describes as "the real thing, one of those rare actresses who can win our instinctive sympathy. She demonstrates that in Angel Eyes. Ebert noted that although the film is a cop movie, "its real story doesn't involve the police, it involves damaged lives and the possibility that love can heal." LaSalle concluded: