Man on a Ledge (2012)

Man on a Ledge unfolds twenty stories up, when wanted fugitive Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) threatens suicide from a Manhattan rooftop, while hostage negotiator Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) tries to talk him down. As Lydia Mercer discovers that Nick Cassidy is an ex-cop who was convicted for a multi-million dollar diamond robbery, Nick Cassidy tries to keep her distracted so that his brother can prove his innocence by conducting a daring robbery.

Overall Review Score

7.5 out of 10

Review

Man on a Ledge is 2012 action crime thriller that takes place mainly at or around the prestigious Roosevelt Hotel in downtime New York City. While the film took two years to make, its all-star cast including: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Anthony Mackie reward the audience by delivering solid performances that bring their multiple dimensioned characters to life. Most notably, Sam Worthington’s portrayal of Nick Cassidy – a former cop trying to prove his innocence – is a joy to watch, as he subtly delivers dialogue in a cryptic but convincing manner that leaves both Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) and the audience wondering if he is responding to her questions or providing hints / tips to the robbery team. The script itself - while mediocre at best -keeps the audience entertained and engaged for the films 102-minute run time, even though the ending comes across as a bit rushed and far-fetched. Overall, Man on a Ledge is a reasonable film, its twists and turns do modify the films tempo and the actors help sell the story. However, it has very limited re-watch value and does not really offer anything new to the Thriller genre. Although, with that said, Director Asger Leth and the cast should be pleased with their efforts as very little fault can be found with the plot or the characters interactions.

Reviewer 1's score & comments:

Score: 8 out of 10

Comments:

Man on a Ledge is a fun and entertaining action thriller. The contrast between fugitive, Nick Cassidy and hostage negotiator, Lydia Mercer really adds to the film tension, and should captivate the audience's attention during every scene. The evolving plotline that develops should also keep the audience enticed throughout the films run time, as it progresses from a simple diamond heist, to prove Cassidy’s innocence, to involve corrupt cops who will stop at nothing to see Cassidy back behind bars. In summary, Man on a Ledge is a good film overall but could have been better with a more padded out storyline.

Reviewer 2's score & comments:

Score: 7 out of 10

Comments:

Man on a Ledge is a unique thriller, directed by Asger Leth, that keeps audiences guessing whether Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) stole David Englander’s diamond or not up until the very last moment. While its 102-minute feels a bit long in places, mainly due to the back and forth dialogue between Nick and Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks), these moments are quickly countered by the intensive and highly enjoyable robbery antics of Joey Cassidy (Jamie Bell) and Angela Lopez (Genesis Rodriquez). Overall, the cast and crew put in a decent effort with this picture. While Man on a Ledge is never going to make the list of Top 10 Films of all time, it will entertain the audience and provide them with a fluid plot that delivers a thrilling tell of intrigue, discourse, and the occasional stereotypical rich-man’s flippancy.

#action #crime #thriller #anthonymackie #samworthington