Man on a Ledge
Vain attempt to recover the action film on the map, “Man on a Ledge” fails where “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” managed to put in full view. Its improbabilities are so absurd and grotesque they adversely affect the operation of the series B Longuette that takes far too seriously.
A man (Sam Worthington) posted in the window of a large hotel in New York threatened to commit suicide. In talking with this being desperate, a negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) discovers that there is something fishy and possibly a conspiracy is going on in the shadows…
Since the commercial success of “Avatar,” his lead actor Sam Worthington has been catapulted into an impressive number of productions. Yet it has not yet proven, providing the minimum necessary in “Last Night” and “The Debt” (and let us be silent on the resounding failure of the remake of “Clash of the Titans”). His record of the game is still very limited, it was unwise to ask him to support the weight of the world on his shoulders, as is the case of his character in “Man on a Ledge”. He and the viewer can not guess quickly, do not identify themselves with what he saw.
A serious problem when the majority of the film revolves around him. The writer has understood, showing half-dozen devices stereotypical characters and not developed (the bad cop, good cop, cynical journalist, etc…) Elizabeth Banks which makes everything possible. There is also a second story related on a flight where the improbabilities are even more numerous than in all episodes of “James Bond” together. This is usually not the end of the world cinema, but there are limits to take a suitcase for movie lovers. This segment which wants funny and light is even less interesting than the previous one, which is a shame for Jamie Bell who defends a pivotal role. But it is at this point appears far too often the evil Ed Harris, who deserved the feature be built around him.
The rest of the story comes down to sessions blabla chick feelings or revelations, a story that dares not cautious front to address the consequences of the economic crisis, betrayals completely expected and action scenes often banal. Although carried out correctly, the work of Asger Leth (noticed in the much more sustained “Ghosts of Cite Soleil”) displays no personality.
Positioning itself far behind “The Negotiator” and “The Ledge” who knew, in their own way, the best out of this premise rather limited, “Man on a Ledge” lack of nerves and excitement. It already expects to see in three months on the shelves of video stores at a ridiculous price.
