Movie review: “Man on a Ledge”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 2 1/2 of 4 stars.
Movie review: “Man on a Ledge”
The high-stakes action-thriller effectively keeps viewers on the edge of their seats for much of its runtime before eventually slipping into conventional cinematic territory.
The high-stakes action-thriller “Man on a Ledge” effectively keeps viewers on the edge of their seats for much of its runtime before eventually slipping into conventional cinematic territory.
With its unique if farfetched premise, the debut feature from Asger Leth, who previously directed the gritty Haitian gang documentary “Ghosts of Cité Soleil,” also boasts a twisty story, which he effectively unveils in tantalizing little pieces. Of course, the mystery only really surprises if you haven’t seen the too-revealing trailers for the film.
Australian actor Sam Worthington stars Nick Cassidy, a former New York City policeman wrongly convicted of stealing a $40 million diamond from coldblooded businessman David Englander (University of Oklahoma alumnus Ed Harris). Imprisoned in Sing Sing, the ex-cop is a favorite punching bag among the inmates, and it seems that everyone except his loyal former partner Mike Ackerman (Anthony Mackie) has forsaken him. Cassidy readily admits to the prison psychiatrist that he has considered suicide.
When he is furloughed to attend his father’s funeral, Cassidy tangles with his younger brother Joey (personal favorite Jamie Bell) and then makes breathtaking escape. A few days later, he checks into the historic Roosevelt Hotel, eats a lavish meal that could be his last, wipes the room clean of fingerprints and then steps outside onto the narrow ledge 200 feet above 45th Street in midtown Manhattan.
When police negotiator Jack Dougherty (Edward Burns) arrives on the scene, Cassidy demands to speak instead with Dougherty’s rival, Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks), whose life, confidence and standing with the department have been shaken since an encounter with a jumper that went terribly wrong.
