Man On A Ledge: Movie Review

It’s hard to believe that in an era when celebrities earn credibility for the number of times they’ve crossed the line that virtue could retain much value. But Man On A Ledge suggests innocence is still something we’d give our lives for.

Sam Worthington is developing a taste for the detective roles. Following up from his appearance as a homicide detective in Texas Killing Fields, the Aussie star has donned the persona of a police officer convicted of a multi-million dollar diamond heist. Man On A Ledge introduces viewers to Nick Cassidy, a detective behind bars for stealing a golf-ball sized rock from New York developer David Englander (Ed Harris), for whom he provided part-time security. When Cassidy’s father dies the bent cop takes advantage of the lax security at the funeral to make a getaway. But rather than flee the country, Cassidy finds his way out on to a ledge above one of New York’s busiest intersections. Has he nothing more to live for, or is this the opening move in a Machiavellian plan to get even?

Man on a ledge is a classic chess game plot. Elizabeth Banks (Our idiot brother, The next three days) plays Lydia Mercer, the police negotiator Cassidy calls in to talk him down from his perch. However, her training tells her she’s not dealing with a normal jumper. Can Mercer work out the purpose for Cassidy’s suicide ploy before his plan plays out? It sounds tense on paper, but Man On A Ledge is actually a little under-charged as a thriller. However, it does deliver three observations about life that might be worth the price of a ticket.

The first is a comic nod to natural clumsiness. There’s a robbery going on behind the scenes, and even though the felons are equipped with all sorts of high-tech equipment, they still manage to bounce around on ropes and blunder through deadlines in a way that would make Tom Cruise blush. It’s a nice reminder we’re in no way as good as we think. The second observation is similar and far less pleasant. As Nick threatens to jump, a crowd gathers below urging him to get on with it. The phone-cameras come out as normal commuters hope to catch something out of the ordinary to cap off their day. This fascination with another’s tragedy is apparently so predictable that scriptwriter Pablo Fenjves imagines his characters building their heist around it.

Probably the most interesting observation though is Cassidy’s desire to jump clear of his guilt. Next to his last meal of lobster and chips, the detective leaves a simple note: “I’m going to exit the world as I entered it – innocent.” Whether he is fooling Mercer or fooling himself, Cassidy is determined to regain his reputation. Balancing on the edge of oblivion, Cassidy tells Mercer:

“Today is the day that everything changes. One way or another. I'm ready to die. Its important to me that you understand that.”

It’s a familiar motivation that’s coloured characters from The Count of Monte Cristo to The Fugitive. Even though there is an industry of gossip magazines suggesting we should cultivate a taste for wickedness, we instinctively know the value of innocence. A clean slate is worth a life, even if it’s your own.

Many belief systems actually operate on a similar basis: give everything you’ve got and maybe you might be considered ‘good enough’. Christianity goes one better: Jesus gives his life so you can jump free. No ledges required.

Watching Man On A Ledge with your kids

Man On A Ledge is a fair thriller that’s more likely to be of interest to fans of Australian actors. If you’ve got family members who enjoyed Worthington in Terminator Salvation, Avatar or Clash of the Titans then remember to warn them that no-one is going to turn into a robot, an alien or a demi-god, but they might enjoy solving the mystery. The chat afterwards in the car could include:

Why do you think Cassidy was so worried about clearing things up – he’d got away hadn’t he?

Is Cassidy as squeaky-clean as he makes out?

How much would you give to be found innocent?

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