Luis Mandoki | pinartarhan.com

Jennifer Lopez Angel Eyes movie poster — Angel Eyes starring Jim Caviezel and Jennifer Lopez. A film by Luis Mandoki. Image via sweetslyrics.com

Catch (Jim Caviezel) is a loner who spends his days wandering about and helping people when he can.

Sharon (Jennifer Lopez) is a single cop who has a problematic relationship with her family.

When Catch saves Sharon’s life during a chase, they connect. Catch is nothing like the guys around her, and she can’t help but being drawn to him. But the mystery about him is annoying her as he doesn’t seem to want to share anything about his own life while he’s more than happy to be involved in hers. But as they don’t want to stop being around each other, Catch makes more of an effort and Sharon ignores the things that don’t make sense. But Catch’s past- a past that he doesn’t remember all that well-eventually catches up with them. Can the relationship survive what he has gone through?

Jim Caviezel and Jennifer Lopez in Angel Eyes. Image via angel_cineclub.de

Angel Eyes is a sweet romantic drama with a decent story. Sure, there are a few things about the movie I’d have done differently (such as some scenes, the timeline and mostly the soundtrack).

But it is entirely watchable and likeable, especially if you are a romantic who enjoys emotional stories that haven’t been injected with extra tragedy to be a tear-jerker.

Attention to the word extra: there is a tragedy in the core. This is the first movie I had seen Jim Caviezel in and needless to say he made a good impression. The guy can pull off tall, dark, mysterious and handsome.

You’re strongly recommended to ignore the genre label on IMDB as it is also featured as a thriller. It’s not. It’s good old fashioned romantic drama directed by Luis Mandoki who directed When a Man Loves a Woman, Trapped, Message in a Bottle, White Palace and more. And frankly, it does deserve a bit more than 5.5 (its imdb rating).

Fun note: Terrence Howard has a supporting role as one of Jennifer Lopez’s cop buddies, and Jeremy Sisto plays her brother.

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I love White Palace. It is romantic, bittersweet and fun. Sometimes it is realistic and sometimes not. But it is lovely and modern. It was shot in 1990, but this is a story about a relationship some people would frown upon even today.

It goes against the usual norms of starting a relationship. Well remember anything from the book/movie he is not just that into you? (Well, you can read about it here). The guy is not all that into you if you have to pick him from the bar, get yourself a ride home, convince him to stay over, and jump on him when he is sleeping and initiate everything? How does a love story come out of here? Bear with me, here.

Nora (Susan Sarandon) is a 43-year-old waitress working at a fast food restaurant. Max is a 27-year-old advertising executive going places. They really have nothing in common. Max is organized and controlled, whereas Nora is a messy, free-spirited woman. They meet by chance when Max stops by the restaurant and then run across each other at a bar. Nora is all over this beautiful guy (oh yes, Susan Sarandon is attractive but a James Spader in his 20s is the perfect male beauty). Max is so wasted, he can’t even react properly. He is still upset about his wife’s death even after two years have passed. But somehow he finds himself at Nora’s. After spending the night together, Max goes home. He would never consider seeing Nora again, but he realizes this is the most fun he has had in such a long time. So he starts hanging out with her. And instead of a relationship based on just sex, this turns into a relationship where they are crazy about each other. But Max has trouble taking her into his social circle. She doesn’t fit in. Their differences start to get in the way. But does it really matter after you have fallen head over heels?

The movie is directed by Luis Mandoki, a director who is very apt at conveying emotions to the screen. I like many of his films, including Message in a Bottle with Kevin Costner and When a Man Loves a Woman with Andy Garcia. Mind you, he is pretty solid with thrillers too- having directed Trapped; starring Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend.

If you have against romance movie in general, obviously this is not your movie. But then again, it is not just about the romance. It’s about how we perceieve love, loss, goals, family and relationships. The acting is of course just right. Plus, it is great when James Spader plays a nice guy. Remember his Wolf?

white_palace_susan sarandon-james spader — Sarandon and Spader make a lovely couple.

Other Susan Sarandon Movies:

Bernard and Doris: Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon

Arbitrage starring Richard Gere: Gere Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor

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