FTG-Nerd Review: Man on a Ledge | Front Towards Gamer

If you knew you were innocent, what would you do to prove it? Sam Worthington goes to the extreme in Summit Entertainment’s Man on a Ledge. Is this movie going to make you cheer or jump off a building?

STORY

Nick Cassidy is a former cop who was set up and incarcerated for stealing a 40 million dollar diamond from wealthy real estate mogul, David Englander. For the last two years of appealing to the courts with no avail, Nick comes up with a plan to prove his innocence. He just needs the right opportunity, which comes at the passing of his father. Nick, with the help of his brother, overtakes his guards at the cemetery his dad was just buried at and escapes.

Nick is free and the plan is in effect. He uses a fake credit card and ID to check into a hotel with a room on the 21st floor. After having his “last meal”, he opens the window and steps out on the ledge. Immediately, he attracts attention from New York citizens below. In response to the scene, police and fire rush in, block off traffic, and try to control the situation. Police negotiators try to talk Nick down, but Nick has a different agenda. He asks for a specific female detective that became famous because she wasn’t able to help a cop who jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge. This is all just a big ruse to buy time for Nick’s brother, Joey and his girlfriend, Angie to break into David Englander’s vault across the street from the hotel in order to prove his innocence. If he can prove David Englander still possesses the diamond, hopefully he can clear his name.

Man on a Ledge 2012 Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks

Watch that first step. It's a doozie!

OVERVIEW

If you read the title of the movie, it already gives away the main plot of the movie. Yes indeed Man on a Ledge is about a man on a ledge. But what makes it a fun and entertaining movie is how the story unfolds. Man on a Ledge mixes in a cop thriller-drama with the coolness of a heist flick. Although some parts were predictable, other parts keep you guessing what will happen next. I had a pretty good time. As long as you can suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours, you’ll have no problem with the film either.

Sam Worthington (Avatar/Wrath of the Titans/Call of Duty: Black Ops) plays Nick Cassidy. As an action/drama actor, the character of Nick turns out to be one of his better roles. I actually liked him in Terminator: Salvation but didn’t care for him in Avatar. In Man on a Ledge you can actually see the desperation and anger in Worthington’s eyes, all while rooting and cheering for him throughout the film. Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock/Zack and Miri Make a Porno) portrays Detective Lydia Mercer, who is disliked by her fellow cops and is a bit of an outcast. Banks plays the part as smart, caring, and strong. The movie also hints that she may have a job induced drinking problem. The interactions between Banks and Worthington come off like a typical cop/victim relationship with a dash of romance.

Man on a Ledge 2012 Jamie Bell and Genesis Rodriguez.

Jamie Bell and Genesis Rodriguez make a great on screen duo.

Ed Harris as David Englander, Edward Burns plays as Detective Jack Dougherty, and Kyra Segwick as reporter Suzie Morales all lend their parts to the story. Though not overly memorable, they still do their part to add to the plot. Harris is a generic douche bag rich guy. Segwick is a typical shock and awe reporter, while Burns is a good guy cop. However, I really enjoyed, Jamie Bell (playing Nick’s brother Joey Cassidy) and the incredibly sexy Genesis Rodriguez as Joey’s girlfriend, Angie. The duo add a much needed comic relief to the film. The audience laughed out loud numerous times at the lovers banter back and forth while they break into the Englander’s vault. Oh, and the fellas will love the pink bra and panty scene from Rodriguez.

Man on a Ledge isn’t an the most intelligent heist film out there, but it was fun. While I was able to guess some of the key plot points, I nor my fellow audience members were disappointed. I would recommend seeing it on big screen to induce vertigo due to most of film taking place on the 21st floor of a hotel (that being said, if you are afraid of heights, you may want to skip it). Between Man on a Ledge and The Grey (our review here!) , movie goers have two good choices this weekend.