Man On A Ledge
There’s something to be said for a movie where the title tells you exactly what is going to happen. Who didn’t love "Snakes on a Plane" as an idea? Even the poorly executed "Phone Booth" was so simplistic that no other name would have felt right. Joining the echelons of these movies is the new film "Man on a Ledge." The difference, though, is that "Man on a Ledge" is an entertaining ride worth taking.
"Man on a Ledge" has the makings of a film that will replay well on cable - one that will suck you in every time you catch it. (The plot isn’t too involved, so it can be picked up at any point.) The cast is more high wattage than the film really deserves to have, but keeps it from turning into another cable movie of the week thriller.
In fact, it’s a plot that has been done plenty of times before. Nick Cassidy, a former New York cop, is put in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon escaping from prison he sets out to clear his name by doing the only logical thing - threatening to jump from the window ledge of his hotel room, thus creating a media circus to distract from other parts of his plan that are concurrently happening.
Screenwriter Pablo F. Fenjves, who until now has had a career writing mostly TV movies, starts the film off quickly and uses flashbacks for the background exposition. Asger Leth, making his directorial debut, keeps things moving at such a brisk pace that you never stop to think about the plausibility of the whole thing. "Ledge" is best when taken at face value; any further probing would ruin the only surface level entertainment value. Leth’s biggest strength here is that he is able to get commanding performances from his actors without ever breaking from the action. If the film were to settle down, the momentum would be lost.
Perhaps Aussie-bred Sam Worthington felt he was slumming, coming off big action roles in "Clash of the Titans" and "Avatar" because he only seems engaged during the more physical parts of the film. He doesn’t bother trying to hide his accent from coming through - despite being a disgraced New York cop, coming from a presumably Irish family. Meanwhile, co-star Elizabeth Banks seems to be reveling in her ability to take a break from the comedic roles she is more known. Banks, playing the negotiator with a troubled track record looking to prove herself, keeps all of the pieces moving in the film while proving that she is an underrated dramatic actress.
Following a trend of trying to compact as many recognizable faces into moderately budgeted film as possible, "Ledge" finds itself under utilizing some of its strongest assets. Kyra Sedgwick is able to play her sassy reporter with her eyes closed, but there isn’t any particular reason for her to be there. The part is also suited for someone who is about half her age. She deserves better than a thankless role with little screen time. Both Ed Burns and Ed Harris are similarly made to play carbon copy characters that any actor could play with the same amount of conviction.
On the other end of the spectrum, Genesis Rodriguez makes a splashy film debut, not only because Leth likes to ogle her body through the camera, but because she brings a certain amount of levity to the film while being able to keep up with the boys in the cast. Rodriguez is ripe to fill the role of female butt-kicker that is quickly becoming vacated by Angelina Jolie, should she choose to accept the title.
"Man on Ledge" is a what you see is what you get type of thriller. Within the first 15 minutes you’ll be able to guess what is happening in the film, thanks to its paint by numbers formula. But there’s an inherent entertainment value to watching a film with a well-executed formula on screen. The fun here isn’t whether or not you are kept on the edge of your seat, but rather it is sitting back and just enjoying the ride.
