‘MAN ON A LEDGE’ (2012)

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If you’ve seen the trailer for this, then you have the high points of this crime drama. Still, although this isn’t Academy-Award material, there is a decent, capable writer keeping the story-telling tightly woven into a satisfying premise. man on a ledge

Man on a Ledge (2012) Film Review

Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) is an innocent man. Trouble is he doesn’t just want a courtroom to know that, he wants the world to know. In the aftermath of a fight with his little brother (Jamie Bell) at their father’s funeral, Nick sees, and uses the confusion as his one opportunity to escape the custody of his prison guards. This sets into motion his well-laid plans to clear his name. First he has to gain attention, something he does by standing on the ledge of a Manhattan sky scraper. Next he demands, from the first detective (Edward Burns) on scene, a specific negotiator.  

Detective Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) is not a woman without a sullied reputation. A month prior she lost a jumper, a fellow man in blue, and this Nick knows. What NYC’s finest don’t know yet is Nick’s own sordid past. A former cop, Nick knows procedure and was a good cop before being accuse of stealing a diamond from one of New York’s real estate mogul’s. Now Nick is ready to defend his name, no matter the cost.

In contrast to some of the terrific action flicks on America’s screens in the last five years, this title may seem dull. Look at Man on a Ledge from the bigger picture, and I don’t think it actually is. It’s not a “thrilling” title, but for the most part, it’s an out of the ordinary hypothesis. Unfortunately, I think the end climax is too anti-climatic but the final 20 minutes are exciting.

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‘MAN ON A LEDGE’ (2012). Sam Worthington stars alongside an impressive case in this caper-style film. #Movies #MovieArchives Share on X

A box office miss, this is one that got the bury treatment under bigger competitors. It’s a shame really, because while not the most high-tech, this film is rather intelligent. I like the twist in the story that pits it as a caper and am impressed by the cast list which also includes Ed Harris and Kyra Sedgwick. Despite the lack of character development (it’s virtually impossible here), writers still give us a good story. The cast share some nice moments as their respective characters over the span of a 24-hour day; and there’s a lot of intense emotions.

Anything that takes its time but still keeps us watching, is something worth sticking with. What it lacks in excitement, it makes up for in making us care for Nick’s dilemma. In the end, the movie is a respectable piece of film work – plus the terrifying will-he-or-won’t-he premise makes this a different kind of edge-of-your-seat thrills. All of which leave us with questions that linger about the legal system.

Content: profanity is present in the form of one f-word, sh*t, h*ll and da*n. There are some intense moments when it appears Nick will go over. Two men are shot – one is killed; another is beaten up and threatened. There are a few minor sexual innuendoes between a man and his girlfriend [she remarks on an ex who was the best in bed]. There is a robbery. The film is PG-13.