Big Screen Blurb: Man on a Ledge

Take a man. Put the man on the ledge of a New York high-rise. Add in a host of New Yorkers yelling, "Jump!" Throw in some of NYC's finest and not-so-finest, which are there to give the guy a helping hand...or in some cases, a nudge, and you've got the making of a pretty suspenseful tale with a nicely unique storyline.

It's Man on a Ledge. Meet Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington). He's a blue Avatar from the planet...wait...sorry...got confused for sec. The Debt is the only thing I've seen him in since Avatar and I've missed him. Do over...So, here's Nick. He's a cop that we presume has been wrongly accused of stealing a $40 million diamond from one mean son-of-a-bee-otch and real estate giant, David Englander (Ed Harris). With that in mind, Nick's lil bro, Joey (Jamie Bell) and his bride-to-be Angie (Genesis Rodriquez) are on the scene to help make it right.  The problem being, Nick has plenty of folks trying to make sure he stays wrong and behind bars. Yadayadayada Nick escapes from the slammer to concoct a scheme that sees him walk on the wild side, check that--a walk on a ledge, while Joey and Ang try to find said diamond to prove Nick's innocence.

It's good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars on this one. The story is refreshingly unique and goes well beyond the ole 'locked up innocent guy fighting for true justice and freedom'. It's Phone Booth meets The Fugitive and told in a way that keeps its audience dialed in throughout each of its 102 minutes. You're really thrown into the story and asked to catch up and keep up, which you'll have no trouble doing--as long as you're sober when  you nestle your tale in your stadium seat of choice.

Acting? Hmm...Performances are sound all around. No drop at all on the ole Sam Fan-o-meter for me, and Jamie is solid as well; and, of course Ed Harris does bad all kinds of justice.

My only real complaint with Man on a Ledge is a few implausible developments as the plot comes to its crescendo. I was just a little disappointed in a few of the final elements when the rubber was meeting the road. Plus, a few things could have been developed a little differently, which would have made the movie's end result a little more possible. Sure, the Joey-Angie dynamic was supposed to provide a little sexually charged comedic relief--it came up short. That's alright. The film didn't need it.

There's plenty of good stuff out right now. If you're looking for a well-told story with a helping of suspense and a side order of intensity, go BIG on this one.

True...OUT!