Man on a Ledge

Lydia Mercer (Banks) has a tough job. She’s a police negotiator whose recent attempts to stop a policeman jumping from Brooklyn Bridge ended in tragedy. On leave of absence in the aftermath of that event, she’s suddenly called into action when a man threatening to jump from the window ledge of a top floor hotel room says that he will talk to her and her alone.

Lydia has no choice but to rush to the hotel, though it soon transpires that all is not as it first seemed. The man is former policeman, Nick Cassidy (Worthington), convicted of stealing a $40 million diamond and recent escapee from prison.

What transpires is not your typical sob story of a wrongly convicted man. The suicide threats are merely a huge decoy, whilst Nick’s brother attempts to steal the very same diamond from the businessman that framed Nick for its theft. Throw in a splash of action and more than a dash of police corruption and Man on a Ledge provides a thriller, witnessed from the perspective of the previously uninvolved Lydia.

Leth’s first non-documentary is fast paced and exciting, promising a bright future in the industry. Coupled with the plot, the main cast all deliver strongly, with Worthington and Banks sharing a fractious relationship of little trust. Jamie Bell also merits a note for his portrayal of Joey, desperately trying to help his brother and trying not to get caught out himself.

Whilst not hotly received by critics, Man on a Ledge is the sort of film you can really enjoy watching. Its plot unravels and the intricacies of the characters’ intertwined backgrounds becoming more and more apparent with each revelation.