Dir: Asger Leth
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell
Synopsis: A cop is sent to prison for a crime he says he did not commit. Determined to prove his innocence, he stands on the ledge of a posh New York hotel, providing the perfect distraction for his brother to find the evidence that clears his name.
Verdict: I had my doubts about Man on a Ledge when it originally came out at the cinema, and so haven't seen it until its DVD release. I am pleased to report that, up until the last few minutes when it becomes almost unbearably cheesey, I actually enjoyed it.
The main thing that I enjoyed about this film is the way that director Leth has made it so suspenseful. From Worthington's Nick Cassidy on his perch threatening to throw himself off, to the cliche'd last minute, get-so-close-to-getting-caught crime that's being pulled off by Bell and Genesis Rodriguez's Joey and Angie, the film did have me involuntarily leaning slightly forward.
It's rare nowadays to come across a film that has little CGI in it, but with films like these it's more appropriate sometimes not to have fancy graphics everywhere as it detracts from the, albeit an over the top story line, reality of a similar situation.
All of the cast worked well in their respective roles, with Banks' move from a more comedy background to being the cop-negotiator being performed really well. The only niggle I have is with Rodriguez's role, which seemed to be another cliche in the film - the young, passionate and spunky Latina woman with her breasts on display for the majority of her time on screen. The story would have worked just as well without having a tug on the over-excitable teenage sex drive.
The biggest cliche Leth saves until last, with an ending that is cheesy to the point of being cringeworthy, deflating the feeling created by the main body of the film. The twist at the end he could have got away with if it had not been done in the way it had.
Final verdict: a surprising film which manages to pull out of the bag everything you least, and most, expect.
No comments:
Post a Comment