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Is it worth $10? Yes
Sam Worthington, your place on the B-list is now solidified.
After functioning as a solid hero in "Clash of the Titans" and "Avatar" but showing limited range in dramatic roles such as "The Debt," Worthington has established his niche as a handsome face who can handle physical roles. No shame in that. Heck, Bruce Willis made a career out of it. But when a role calls for him to emote a bit more, such as in "Man On A Ledge," both he and the movie struggle.
Thankfully Worthington's lack of Streepness doesn't keep us from enjoying "Ledge," a successful caper with solid action and suspense. Worthington plays Nick Cassidy, an ex-cop convicted of stealing a diamond from real estate developer David Englander (Ed Harris). After getting in a fight with his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) at their father's funeral, Nick escapes prison custody and soon finds his way high atop the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.
It is here that the layers of writer Pablo F. Fenjves' story come to the fore, and they are numerous and substantial. Nick stands on an outer ledge on the hotel's 21st floor, causing commotion from people down below in fear/anticipation that he'll jump. He refuses to speak with anyone except Officer Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks), a heavy drinker with a checkered past who doesn't get along with co-workers like the egotistical Jack Dougherty (Edward Burns).
Meanwhile, Joey and his girlfriend Angie (Genesis Rodriguez) are across the street conducting business of their own. One of the nice things about Asger Leth's direction is that he patiently reveals information only as needed, which allows the suspense to build and the pieces of the puzzle to fall in place gradually. What's more, a number of high angle and low angle shots are used, which allows the viewer to understand the danger of where Nick is standing. Many directors falter in their first feature film, but Leth has done very well here (it helps that the people at Summit Entertainment – the same individuals who torture us with the awful “Twilight” movies – have surrounded Leth with a great cast that also includes Kyra Sedgwick and Anthony Mackie).
As all good movies do, "Man On A Ledge" will have you thinking and talking afterward. How far would you go to prove your innocence? It's feasible that many would rely on the justice system, but if it doesn't work as it should there's nothing to do but take matters into your own hands. Ironically, this often means breaking the law, which in reality probably leads you back to the slammer.
Somewhat surprisingly, "Man On A Ledge" stays within the realm of plausibility for much of its 102 minutes, straying only slightly in the end. It's predictable, sure, but it has a few surprises and is entertaining enough to be worth a trip to the theater.
Did you know?
Amy Adams was considered for the role of Lydia.
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jimcdunn
said:
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... I just got home from seeing it. What a great movie. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it. |
I so loved this movie from beginning to end..suspense thriller of the year. 
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