Man on a Ledge

Starring;

Sam Worthington

Elizabeth Banks

Jamie Bell

Ed Harris

Edward Burns

Genesis Rodriguez

Director;

Asger Leth

In three words; Stupid - Ridiculous - Shit

Plot;

In an attempt to prove his innocence escaped convict Nick Cassidy (Worthington) threatens to jump off a building. Whilst the negotiator attempts to talk him down his brother is breaking into a vault across the street to assist with his redemption.

Review;

Ex-New York cop Nick Cassidy (Worthington) escapes from prison in an attempt to prove his innocence. How does he do this? By standing on a ledge. This isn’t the first choice of a man who wants to reinstate his integrity, and perhaps this should give the film points for thinking outside the box. It doesn’t. It is absolutely stupid!

When Cassidy is spotted on the ledge and the police attend he advises that he will only speak with Lydia Mercer (Banks). The only reason he decides that he wants Lydia is because he has seen her on TV, she is currently on leave as she failed to stop a rookie cop from jumping from a bridge. Apparently Cassidy will trust her and believes she will give him enough time for him to prove his innocence. Ridiculous! Also, at no point do the New York Police Officers noticed that the suicidal man on the ledge is the same ex-colleague who was disgraced only two years previously when he was sent to jail after what would have been a highly publicised trial.

Whilst Cassidy is claiming that he is about to commit suicide his brother Joey (Bell) and girlfriend Angie (Rodriguez) are breaking into a vault across the street to steal a massive diamond which Cassidy is in jail for already stealing. This heist is farcical to say the least. Borrowing elements from Hudson Hawk and Mission Impossible their journey is ridiculous and at times laughable. Seeing Jamie Bell lying on a skateboard with what appears to be an oversized sanitary towel on top of him (this is camouflage from the CCTV!!) makes me wish, once again, that he was never ‘discovered’. Bell is more believable as the CGI, ghostly faced Tin Tin then he is as a human! There is no explanation as to why Joey and Angie have the skills to pull off such an audacious robbery, other than a brief conversation about how they have practice part of their plan. Also they appear to have obtained plans of the building and vault. Where the fuck did these come from?!

Man on a Ledge attempts to rip off The Negotiator (FYI one of the best films ever!) and Inside Man. However, this flick does not have the genius of The Negotiator and lacks any of the sophistication of Inside Man. The director Asger Leth (no me either) has failed to bring any cohesiveness to this film. Instead we are presented with a complicated and ludicrous plot which has too many variables for it to be remotely believable.

The most upsetting thing about this film is Worthington’s hair. Not since Tom Hanks’ barnet in The Da Vinci Code have I been so offended by a haircut. I have enjoyed Worthington’s performances in Avatar and even in Terminator Salvation. However, he is poor in this film. His accent is a much as a joke as his hair.

Perhaps you will think that I am being overly critical of this film as it does not pretend to high brow or in any way sophisticated. However, with a budget of $42 million you have to wonder why they bothered! Please avoid this film at all costs, it is shit!

Verdict;

A generous 1 out of 5.