Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Man On A Ledge’ Spells Diversionary Vertigo

Granted, MAN ON A LEDGE could easily qualify as a so-called ‘high concept film’—meaning its plot can be described in a single paragraph.

However, that’s not fair to this ensemble action-thriller of vertigo proportions.

MAN ON A LEDGE stars Sam Worthington as a disgraced ex-cop who was framed, convicted and imprisoned for the theft of a rare and highly prized diamond. But to clear his name, he’s escaped the big house, checks into a Manhattan hotel and climbs onto the ledge ready to jump 200 feet down to 45th street and certain death.

Now it’s up to tough police negotiator Elizabeth Banks to talk Worthington down.

But does he really want to jump? And who is Worthington secretly communicating with from the window’s ledge on his tiny, hidden two-way? Is this all just a masterful diversion for something much bigger about to go down inside a building just across that street that would prove his innocence?

After all, the bigger the event, the bigger the distraction. And this is a doozie!

Since I don’t deal well with heights I’ll be the first to admit that there were several scenes in this motion picture that made me squirm. And to think that most of the high, out-on-the-ledge scenes were REAL instead of CGI wizardry brought the tension levels even higher for our screening audience.

Actors were decked out with invisible body harnesses.

The thriller’s top notch ensemble cast also includes Ed Burns, Jamie Bell, Billy Elliot and Ed Harris.
But my favorite here is Kyra Sedgwick playing on the spot TV reporter ‘Suzy MoRales’ to the hilt and always pronouncing her name with a rolling R similar to a certain K.C. (TV) street reporter.

Cop or no cop, you can only push an innocent man so far and MAN ON A LEDGE is living proof —make that Hollywood proof— of that old saying.

I’m raising 3-1/2 out of 5 diversionary fingers.

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ Am & Fm / Friday morning’s at 8:20 a.m. on 1660 RADIO BACH / and anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.