This unusual, character-driven thriller follows young hotel manager Gavin (Charlie Hunnam), who steps out onto a high ledge to commit suicide. World-weary police officer Hollis (Terrence Howard) is assigned to talk him down but is tormented by traumatic issues of his own. The men find themselves debating atheism, faith and the meaning of life, and soon are embroiled in a battle of wills that has each man questioning his commitment to his chosen path.
The Ledge is a thriller that begins and ends with faith. It goes back and forth between its two leads on whether religion can really save your soul or if it’s just some pointless ploy that people have been tricked into. It never leans over to the point of being a nuisance, but I would have at least liked to see an argument for both sides of the topic. The film seems to lean heavily on the atheist side and tends to show religion as something only a crazy man could enjoy. Someone like me, who completely agrees, is fine with its stance, but it could really turn others off because it tends to be so one-sided.
Even if it turns you off, the religious aspect also sets up the thrilling scenario our lead character is put in. Will Gavin sacrifice himself to save a woman he loves? It’s a question everyone at one point in their lives thinks in their head and it’s tough. You never truly know until it actually happens to you. As he is standing on the ledge, the film uses flashbacks to reveal how this situation came to be. It feels like a pretty straight forward love affair, but once again that religious aspect of the three really tend to twist it enough to make it entertaining. It does a good enough job to get you to actually care about the fate of these two, if not just to root against the fanatic Joe (Patrick Wilson). In a sub plot that feels a little out of place but is thrown in for the similar theme on life is the negotiator who’s trying to prevent him from jumping. His wife is unfaithful and he doesn’t know if he can live with the consequences that come with it. With its little screen time, it almost feels a little unnecessary, but not a hated welcome.
This film helps confirm what I always thought but wasn’t entirely sure of, Liv Tyler isn’t a good actress. The film manages to overcome her struggles with the help of its two leads Patrick Wilson and Charlie Hunnam. They are far from perfect but together on screen when they are arguing, they are good. The argument feels natural, flows easy, and the two seem to have good chemistry. Outside of the terrible back and forth accents of Charlie Hunnam, the two were good enough to carry the film and turn it into something interesting. It’s nice to all us Sons of Anarchy fans to see Jax finally getting leading roles, because the dude simply has the stuff to make it work.
The Ledge is a slow paced sometimes intense film that manages to be good if not great if you can overlook a few flaws and plot holes. The terrible reviews this film has received seems questionable because I have a hard time believing so many people dismissed it as a forgettable film; Maybe I didn’t see the same film as them. This is a must see for Jax fans and recommended watch for just about everyone else.
Overall Score: 8/10
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