Angel Eyes (2001)

A mysterious man is drawn to a feisty female police officer and a unusual relationship ensues, as not everything is as it seems.

Director:

Luis Mandoki

Writer:

Gerald Di Pego

Stars:

Jennifer Lopez, Jim Caviezel, Jeremy Sisto

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Lopez	...	Sharon Pogue
Jim Caviezel	...	Steven 'Catch' Lambert
Jeremy Sisto	...	Larry Pogue, Sr.
Terrence Howard	...	Robby
Sônia Braga	...	Josephine Pogue (as Sonia Braga)
Victor Argo	...	Carl Pogue
Monet Mazur	...	Kathy Pogue
Shirley Knight	...	Elanora Davis
Daniel Magder	...	Larry Pogue, Jr.
Guylaine St-Onge	...	Annie Lambert (as Guylaine St. Onge)
Connor McAuley	...	Max Lambert
Jeremy Ratchford	...	Ray Micigliano
Peter MacNeill	...	Lieutenant Dennis Sanderman
Eldridge Hyndman	...	Jamal
Kari Matchett	...	Candace

Storyline

While pursuing a suspect one night, Chicago Police officer Sharon Pogue nearly becomes the victim of a fatal ambush. A mysterious stranger, Catch intervenes, disarms the assassin and saves Sharon's life. Is it a stroke of luck? A twist of fate? Or just a concerned citizen who happened to pass by at the right time and wasn't afraid to get involved? Maybe, but Sharon and Catch have met once before. As the two fall in love, they discover the truth about each other and are forced to deal with the secrets from their past.

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Plot Keywords:

mysterious man | love | fate | gun | apartment | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes an accident is no accident at all.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heart of Town

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$53,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,225,575, 20 May 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$24,044,532, 15 July 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures, The Canton Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's original release had David Gray's Sail Away playing at the end credits, but this has been removed for the DVD release.

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Goofs

When Sharon walks up to the parents' house and meets Kathy, a speed limit sign in the background says "Maximum 40". That would mean 40 kph in a residential area in Canada. In a residential area of Chicago, the sign would read: "Speed Limit 25" for 25 mph.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sharon Pogue: We have multiple vehicles. Possible DOAs, multiple injuries. In contact major accident. We're gonna need some more ambulances over here.
Radio Dispatcher: All units have been deployed. I don't have an ETA.

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Crazy Credits

"Turning Away" performed by Mary Black (elevator and furniture scene) not listed in movie credits?!

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Alternate Versions

All UK versions were cut to obtain a 15-rating. Warner Brothers had to remove the aggressive use of the word "cunt", or the film would have been rated 18.

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Connections

Referenced in Hello, He Lied & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches (2002)

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Soundtracks

Just Walk Away
Written and Performed by Doug Hamblin and Jan Fanucci
Courtesy of Fat City Records

User Reviews

A gem of a film, best appreciated after you dust off the dirt

I stumbled on this film--because there was nothing obvious that made it look like a film worth your time. It's a film with a lot of misplaced evaluations. For instance, Jennifer Lopez was nominated for a "Razzie" award but the film shows a very fine effort from the lady. Again some comments on the photography infer the late cinematographer Piotr Sobocinsky has done a shoddy job because obvious Toronto landmarks appear in a film set in Chicago. This again is a fault of the Director and editor, not the cameraman who was one of the finest in his business (Kieslowski's "Dekalog" and "Three Colors--Red"). An intense viewing of the film affords the viewer to appreciate the opening shots, the alley shots, and the corridor shots that evoke feelings. It is quite different from the typical Hollywood camera-work.

There are flaws in the film. The film jumps to situations without a build up--Catch appears on a life saving situation, seemingly out of nowhere; two beers appear on Catch's table in the restaurant, without him ordering the second; no mention is made of why Catch chose this name; etc.

Yet despite those faults the film sails through as fine entertainment because of fine believable performances from Caviezel, Lopez, Sonia Braga, and Shirley Knight. The casting of these four was perfect (thank you Lopez for insisting on Caviezel!). The film is great entertainment because the film refrains from sex and promotes fine values--including family values, reconciliation, dealing with bereavement and doing good to make a better world. How many films are brave enough to deal with such subjects today without depicting sex and violence?

The film touches on subplots that could have been fleshed out--Catch's lonely neighbor who invites him share a pizza, Catch's friend who recognizes him at the restaurant but Director Mandoki clearly steers clear to present the two psychologically wounded persons and their healing by coming together through a sheer accident. The film may be very Christian in character but it presents a very secular, humane scenario that will uplift any viewer. Though unevenly woven, the film has several sequences that show Mandoki has fine capabilities. One only wishes he took greater care of details.

Flaws apart, the film is above average cinema that the publicity has shrouded by misplaced evaluations.