Man On A Ledge

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) believes he is a wrongly convicted man, he’s the done time and he’s bitter, hatching an escape plan that’s worthy of a script re-write in Prison Break he sets out to do the near impossible. Without giving the game away completely he winds hanging out on the ledge of the Roosevelt Hotel, on it’s top floor for the majority of the film. Why? just to prove his point really, well that and his brother Joey (Jamie Bell) is attempting to clear his dear ol’ bro’s name in a nearby building as he attempts to pull off the greatest heist since Oceans 11 and 12, ( I ignored 13).

Meanwhile back up on the ledge, Nick’s not talking, he’s attempting to buy himself some time and has a few tricks up his sleeve until Lydia walks in. Elizabeth Banks as Lydia is ace, she always brings something worthwhile to the table and here as a police psychologist/negotiator called in from leave (she failed to stop the last client from jumping off a bridge) she puts up a great fight, constantly querying her latest problem as she smells that something is not quite right from the outset and can’t shake her suspicions of Nick’s real motives.

The film plays out unlike you’d expect, there are a fair few twists and more surprises than Cilla Black used to provide on a Saturday evening and along the way there are obviously problems but Joey and his girlfriend deal with them with sass and a slick style – they’ll be calling up Jamie Bell to be Bond/Bourne/Ethan Hunt next.

Worthington may have been forgiven for Clash of the Titans here as we’re reminded why James Cameron picked him for Avatar, as he shows off his acting chops in a role that requires less depth than a goldfish bowl. It all gets a bit silly in parts and we may as well be watching re-runs of Scooby Doo as some of the plot is a little obvious and ludicrous, but it’s forgiveable. 

This is not one for those who don’t have a head for heights as the panning shots from up above on the roof are frequent and treacherous – they will make your head spin even if you’re a lovely of Blackpool’s Big Dipper. You have been warned.

By Amy Gathercole