An angel (Megan Fox) under the thumb of a ruthless gangster (Bill Murray) is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck (Mickey Rourke).
This film, both written and directed by Mitch Glazer (Scrooged), has a lot going for it. Of course, obviously, the amazing cast. Murray never fails, Rourke is strong, and strangely enough Megan Fox puts on the best performance of her career (at least so far) in this film. If you think of her as just a pretty face, this film might prove you wrong.
And the story is compelling. There is an angel (or "bird woman") and it passes as a realistic story without any fantasy. The CGI is hit and miss on the wings, unfortunately, but the general concept is pulled off and makes for quite an interesting story... and with Murray as a gangster, blending his serious and humorous sides in one role.
Having an angel as a character calls to mind some religious thoughts, and indeed they play on the concept of things being "heavenly" and with "redemption". There is a good angel and an evil angel, too. I asked Glazer if the religious symbolism runs deeper, and he assures me it does not. But even on this surface level, the story works -- a man can return to his depths or rise to new heights.
Mickey Rourke, old with a mutant face and sagging pectorals, really owes Glazer for this film. In no way should we believe that an angel would want to be with a loser like this. Granted, he is kind to her and she admires his musical talent. But really, I mean wow... Rourke twenty years ago maybe, but today he should be glad when he gets a female to share a screen with him at all, let alone get naked or kiss him.
The film falls a bit short, and I cannot even pinpoint why. I just felt like there was a next step that should be taken that never was... this could be explored in a sequel, I guess, but this is not the kind of film you make a sequel to. Is love stronger than death, as the tagline suggests? Maybe, but the film never really explains why.
This film, both written and directed by Mitch Glazer (Scrooged), has a lot going for it. Of course, obviously, the amazing cast. Murray never fails, Rourke is strong, and strangely enough Megan Fox puts on the best performance of her career (at least so far) in this film. If you think of her as just a pretty face, this film might prove you wrong.
And the story is compelling. There is an angel (or "bird woman") and it passes as a realistic story without any fantasy. The CGI is hit and miss on the wings, unfortunately, but the general concept is pulled off and makes for quite an interesting story... and with Murray as a gangster, blending his serious and humorous sides in one role.
Having an angel as a character calls to mind some religious thoughts, and indeed they play on the concept of things being "heavenly" and with "redemption". There is a good angel and an evil angel, too. I asked Glazer if the religious symbolism runs deeper, and he assures me it does not. But even on this surface level, the story works -- a man can return to his depths or rise to new heights.
Mickey Rourke, old with a mutant face and sagging pectorals, really owes Glazer for this film. In no way should we believe that an angel would want to be with a loser like this. Granted, he is kind to her and she admires his musical talent. But really, I mean wow... Rourke twenty years ago maybe, but today he should be glad when he gets a female to share a screen with him at all, let alone get naked or kiss him.
The film falls a bit short, and I cannot even pinpoint why. I just felt like there was a next step that should be taken that never was... this could be explored in a sequel, I guess, but this is not the kind of film you make a sequel to. Is love stronger than death, as the tagline suggests? Maybe, but the film never really explains why.