Nick Cassidy (played by Sam Worthington) is an ex-cop who was accused for stealing a $40 million diamond. He has only one goal: prove himself innocent. He escaped from jail and eventually made his way to the ledge of the 21st floor of Roosevelt Hotel. While police negotiator Lydia Mercer (played by Elizabeth Banks) was on her way, the crowd was waiting for a show and Cassidy was about to end it all.

Yet, it was just the beginning of a master plot.

Directed by Asger Leth, “Man on a Ledge” gives audience no time for popcorn and soda. Without much lag during the movie, the story is told with thrills and actions.

The most enjoyable part of the movie is the cinematography applied. Since one-third of the movie involved the tension on the ledge, audience is given a bird-eye view to see the dynamics between the ground and the 21st floor. The height of the hotel is well-portrayed and audience can really feel the intensity of being so high up.

Known for his act as Jake Sully in “Avatar”, Worthington lived up to the expectation. He well-played his character by showing the right amount of frustration, anger, desperation, and calm.  In contrast, Banks did not leave the audience with an impression. On the other hand, supporting actor Jamie Bell (Cassidy’s brother) and actress Génesis Rodríguez (girlfriend of Cassidy’s brother) did a good job in carrying out the plot and keeping the flow. The two left the audience wonder who these new faces with smooth acting skills were.

Though details are often left unattended in some action movies, director Leth gave the audience with every detail possible. One of the memorable moments is the build-up of tension within a very short period of time when an old lady pointed at the man on the ledge to a large crowd gathered around the building. The crowd’s reaction to the scene portrays a vivid side of New York City.

Showing in theatres now, “Man on a Ledge” puts you on the scene where you can view the story from almost firsthand experience and it is definitely worth your money and time.

Man on a Ledge
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 2 hours and 5 minutes