Review of: Man on a Ledge (2012)
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating: 3
Summary:
Man on a Ledge is a tense thriller, successfully keeping our interest despite the bulk of Worthington's screen time being just on that ledge.
Twenty storeys up wanted fugitive Nick Cassidy threatens suicide from a Manhattan rooftop. Ashostage negotiator Lydia Mercer tries to talk him down she discovers that Cassidy was convicted for his part in a multi-million dollar diamond robbery. Whilst Cassidy creates the ultimate distraction his brother and his feisty girlfriend are out to prove his innocence by committing a new crime. With an all-star cast that includes Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Anthony Mackie, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Edward Burns, this adrenalin fueled action thriller will have you on the edge of your seat…
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris
Directed by: Asger Leth
Runtime: 102 minutes
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Review: Man on a Ledge
Asger Leth’s Man on a Ledge is certainly not for the those of you with a fear of heights. It begins in New York where Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into a hotel and climbs out of the window onto a ledge, presumably to commit suicide. He soon draws attention from the crowds below and the police are assigned to try and help. Going under the name of Walker, Nick demands to speak to Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) who is on leave from the police force having failed to talk a fellow officer out of committing suicide a month earlier. Lydia negotiates with Nick and enables her colleagues to figure out his identity. Nick is a former police officer now escaped convict who was sentenced for stealing a diamond. Having eluded the police he is now out to prove his innocence.
Nick is adamant that he was framed for the theft of a $40 million diamond taken from businessman David Englander (Ed Harris). While Lydia tries to help Nick off the ledge herself, her colleague Dante Marcus (Titus Welliver) is anxious to get Nick out of the hotel in handcuffs and back to prison, whatever it takes. Nick’s spectacle is not all it seems to be though. He is planning something and is assisted by his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) and his brother’s girlfriend, Angie (Genesis Rodriguez).
After a careful build up, Man on a Ledge increases the thrills and tension when the magnitude of Nick’s plan is finally unveiled. His is one final chance to prove his innocence to the world but does he succeed? Although the film might seem a bit slow to get going early on it improves when Nick’s brother comes into play but weakens somewhat towards the end in what is a somewhat predictable conclusion. Worthington and Banks are pretty good in the leads and Bell and Rodriguez provide good support though I was bemused at poor Rodriguez having to change briefly into a skin tight outfit when entering an air vent but quickly changing back to her previous outfit moments later. Ed Harris feels a bit underused here sadly so this is certainly not the best I have seen from him but he’s still a welcome addition.
Man on a Ledge is a tense thriller, successfully keeping our interest despite the bulk of Worthington’s screen time being just on that ledge. A little plodding to begin with, the film gathers pace well but the concluding segments while okay don’t make this stand out ahead of most thrillers. Some elements could have been done better but this is still worth considering.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 719 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.