COLUMN: ‘Man on a Ledge’ is a smart heist
“Man on a Ledge” will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The day begins like any other. A seemingly ordinary man, Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington), checks into a hotel and eats a fine meal.
The day quickly becomes abnormal when Nick steps outside his room to look at the view, which happens to be 21 stories above the ground, and the only space he has to stand on is an 18-inch ledge.
A crowd quickly gathers below, and before long, police have sealed off the area, and the only question everyone has is, “Who is the man on the ledge?”
Head detective Jack Dougherty (Edward Burns) is the first to talk with Nick. Nick quickly tells him he wants to talk with Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) as his negotiator.
Mercer arrives on the scene and eventually discovers this man on a ledge is Nick Cassidy, an ex-cop accused of stealing a $40-million diamond who escaped from Sing Sing Prison and a 25-year sentence.
Meanwhile, Nick’s brother, Joey (Jamie Bell), and Joey’s girlfriend, Angela (Genesis Rodriguez), prepare to steal the famous diamond Nick was accused of taking.
“Man on a Ledge” is a brilliantly planned and intense heist movie, but one in which the audience never sees the planning occur.
I love “The Italian Job” and the Ocean’s trilogy, where the planning is a part of the movie, but it’s nice to see the heist unfold, leaving the audience to piece together how the it was masterminded.
This movie is a riveting thriller in which things may or may not be as they seem.The story is full of twists and turns, and it keeps the audience on their toes.
All the main characters in “Man on a Ledge” are multi-dimensional. They all have histories, experiences that allow them to relate to each other and with the audience, and some of those experiences are explored in depth through interactions and flashbacks.
There’s enough comedy to keep the story moving. Many of the comedic elements come from Joey and Angela in their thieving adventures, since they are not professionals.
Worthington is known for his roles in movies, such as Perseus in “Clash of the Titans,” Jake Sully in “Avatar” and Marcus Wright in “Terminator Salvation,” but his name is still unfamiliar to many.
Whether you know who he is or not, know that he’s a versatile actor who delivers once again in “Man on a Ledge.”
Banks stands out like a sore thumb as a beautiful, although tough woman dealing with a group of male police officers, reminiscent of her role as Lara Brennan in “The Next Three Days.” Her next big role will require lots of makeup and will be hardly recognizable as Effie Trinket in “Hunger Games.”
Bell plays a similar character to others he’s played in his prior movies, like “Jumper,” “The Eagle,” and “The Adventures of Tintin,” but don’t let that deter you. I enjoy his roles as an intelligent supporting character that is interesting enough to make the audience curious about his past, and “Man on a Ledge” gives Bell a chance to explore a slightly different role and still allow for intrigue.
This was Director Asger Leth’s first feature film. His past in documentaries is different than most; they are in-your-face, conflicting and exciting. A prime example is his previous work, “Ghosts of Cité Soleil,” an intense, in-depth look at young gang leaders in Haiti inspired by American rap music. This background helps give the fictional thriller “Man on a Ledge” a different feel than other thrillers.
The music was well done. The score was ominous and multi-layered for most of the movie — perfect for a thriller of this magnitude. Henry Jackman, who composed the music for “Puss in Boots” and “X-Men: First Class,” seemed to draw from his background working with Hans Zimmer and his past in classical and electronica music.
My favorite type of heist movies are the ones where I can believe the heist can actually be pulled off, and “Man on a Ledge” is certainly one of those.
If you appreciate heist movies, you will be happy with “Man on a Ledge.”
— Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He enjoys watching all sorts of movies. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu