A couple years ago, Sam Worthington burst onto the scene with not one, but three high profile films. The newcomer top-lined AVATAR, CLASH OF THE TITANS, and co-starred in TERMINATOR: SALVATION. Now, Worthington is back with a much smaller film in terms of scope, but a much larger performance than he has previously given us. Prior to MAN ON A LEDGE, I did not think of the film’s star as much of an actor and even though he is still not great, he has improved and does have potential to grow. To make things even better, MAN ON A LEDGE is Worthington’s most solid film to date.
Worthington plays Nick Cassidy, a former NYPD Officer who is in prison because he was accused of stealing a 40 million dollar diamond from powerful business man David Englander (Ed Harris). Cassidy claims that he is innocent and after escaping custody when allowed to attend his father’s funeral, he shows up many months later standing on the ledge of the Roosevelt Hotel on 45th & Madison in New York City. Prior to heading out on the ledge, Cassidy took the time to make sure he cleaned the room of any fingerprints so that NYPD negotiator Lydia Spencer (Elizabeth Banks), who Cassidy personally requested to be on the scene and Detective Jack Dougherty (Edward Burns) could not identify him.
Why would Cassidy go through all of that trouble if he was planning on jumping off the ledge of the building? The answer, he has no intention of jumping. He is simply trying to keep the police occupied while his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) and Joey’s girlfriend Angie (Genesis Rodriguez) break into the building across the street to steal the diamond that Nick was originally accused of taking.
While Nick and Lydia are going back and forth as she tries to figure out his true identity. Nick’s friend and former partner Mike Ackerman (Anthony Mackie) is still searching for his fugitive buddy. It becomes quite obvious early on in the film that Mike is hiding something as well.
MAN ON A LEDGE is not very original, especially when it comes to the scenes that take place during the break-in, but it really does not matter all that much, because this is quite a fun film. The chemistry between Worthington and Banks is great and even the moments between Banks and Ed Burns who plays a fellow detective, work well. I always enjoy Mackie, even in thankless rolls like last year’s REAL STEEL. Mackie just has a great screen presence.
This is director Asger Leth’s first feature film directorial effort, if you do not count the 2006 documentary GHOSTS OF CITE SOLEIL. Leth does a very good job, especially when it comes to the scenes that take place on the ledge. The film’s biggest flaw comes in the last few minutes during an absurd moment when Cassidy goes after Englander. In all honesty, I expected that moment to happen but it just did not work for me when it did. Aside from more than a few implausible moments, MAN ON A LEDGE is an entertaining heist-thriller that should please most moviegoers.
By: Marc Ferman
