Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Man on a Ledge

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for violence and brief strong language.

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Teens Adults
Genre: Crime Thriller Drama Remake
Length: 1 hr. 42 min.
Year of Release: 2012
USA Release: January 27, 2012 (wide—2,800+ theaters)
DVD: May 29, 2012
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Relevant Issues
Copyright, Summit Entertainment

apparent suicide attempt

diamonds

marriage proposal

funeral

false identity

false accusation

robbery

stealing

corrupt police

fugitive / escaped convict

brother brother relationship

boyfriend girlfriend relationship

Featuring Sam WorthingtonNick Cassidy
Elizabeth BanksLydia Mercer
Jamie BellJoey Cassidy
Ed HarrisDavid Englander
Kyra Sedgwick … Suzie Morales
Edward BurnsJack Dougherty
Anthony MackieMike Ackerman
See all »
Director Asger Leth
Producer Di Bonaventura Pictures
Summit Entertainment
See all »
Distributor

“You can only push an innocent man so far.”

A convicted criminal, known as Nick Cassidy, attempts to prove his innocence. How does he do this? He steps onto a ledge of a hotel in New York City, threatening to end his life. However, while the crowd and the police have directed their attention to him, little do they realize that it’s just a set up for what may be the biggest diamond heist the city has ever seen.

I’ll admit, this was a tough review to write. I walked into the theater, hoping that this film was going to be worth seeing. I had seen the trailer and was intrigued by the synopsis provided. However, as the film progressed, the plot became a little too heavy and contained too many holes to keep me interested. Don’t get me wrong. The acting was very good, the camera work was good; all the other elements of this film were great. However, the plot is what threw me off. For most of the movie, I couldn’t determine why Mr. Cassidy was trying to prove his innocence. I took a friend with me to see this movie, and he too agreed with me and questioned some of the plot behind this film.

“Man on a Ledge” has some objectionable content that I feel is worth mentioning…

Violence: There is a brief fight between two inmates in a prison yard. There is also a brief fight at a cemetery. There is a scene where a car is destroyed by an oncoming train. There is also a scene where someone is beaten up by a policeman. Lastly, there is a scene where two people are shot.

Profanity: The profanity in this film is heavy, heavier than what the MPA rating suggested, in my opinion. There is one instance of d**n, seven instances of the phrase G**D***it, either one or two instances of the word f**k, four instances of h*ll, six instances of the phrase “son of a b***h,” one instance of “b**ch,” “a**” (4), “sh*t” (9), six instances where the Lord’s name is taken in vain, and God’s name is taken in vain two times. Other profanity includes two references made to alcohol, the phrase “break my balls is used, “h**ker,” “cocaine,” the phrase “screwing us over,” “fr*ck,” “hot” is used in reference to women, the word “d*ck” is used, as well as the phrase “hot for you,” “balls” and the obscene word “d**sch.”

Sex/Nudity: I was not expecting any sex or nudity in this film, given the rating. Unfortunately, there is some that I must mention. A reference to homosexual marriage is made. Officer Mercer is seen at the beginning of the film in her pajamas. One of the main characters in seen changing clothes, and the viewer sees her in nothing but her underwear and bra. A couple sexual conversations occur between two characters. Lastly, another woman is seen in her bra.

As you may have guessed from this film’s title, “Man on a Ledge” deals with the idea of suicide. Suicide is never the answer to anything. The Bible makes it very clear that we are not in control of our own lives, we are alive to serve God. That means we do not have the right to take our own lives. God loves us too much to let us do that to ourselves. The Bible states in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (New International Version).

As I said before, I was really looking forward to this film. However, due the underdeveloped plot, violence, sex/nudity, and heavy amounts of profanity, I cannot recommend this film.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Neutral
Neutral—This movie is… well… okay. There is bad language, some violence, and there is that nasty scene where the girl is wearing nothing but underwear. I chose neutral, because I cannot say this movie is positive, as in it was clean, wholesome fun, but I cannot say negative either, because, while the stuff in this movie did exist, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, and it is something that I would recommend to my own mom. Each Christian has different convictions over what is good and what isn’t. I pray that The Holy Spirit will direct you into whether or not this is a good film to see.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Veryan, age 22 (Canada)
Neutral—I enjoyed this movie, because I like suspense, but it did have some very unnecessary language. I just do not understand why they do it, but I objected strongly. LEAVE OUT THE LANGUAGE.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Carol, age 69 (USA)
Neutral—This movie didn’t really do anything for me. The plot might not have bored me, if any of the characters had been very likable… The whole thing seemed just a little bit pointless.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Kadie Jo, age 20 (USA)
Neutral—This is the type of movie that you have to watch more than once to understand the full storyline, there IS a reason why the main character is proving his innocence, he was being set up, as the film unfolds, it’s easier to understand. Greed plays a major part as to why the character was set up in the first place.

As for the suicide depiction, he was too calm and controlled to be suicidal, you can’t take that depiction seriously, it was the only way for him to cause a diversion with loads of noise so that his brother and brother’s girlfriend could find the diamond which was ***SPOILER*** never even stolen in the first place. ***END SpOILER***
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Ace, age 32 (United Kingdom)

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