After an atheistic neighbor (Charlie Hunnam) has an affair with his wife, a vengeful Fundamentalist lures him to the ledge of a high rise, where he has one hour to contemplate a fateful decision.
The framing device of its conceit is beyond silly, and its religious and philosophical debate a tad inorganic, but ambition and intellect help drive and push The Ledge in interesting ways.
The Ledge has a couple very strong performances and it explores some interesting issues. There are some satisfying thrills to be had here and overall, it's not a bad watch.
Gavin recalls his experiences while standing atop a building ready to jump; we're meant to be on edge ourselves, but the only real mystery is why Tyler took such an unrewarding role in the first place.
Clunky writing and flat-footed direction derail this initially intriguing exploration into both the power and limits of belief.
New York Times
July 07, 2011
What undoes it is its mechanical structure: a stale dramatic formula of the sort taught in elementary playwriting classes.
Times-Picayune
August 26, 2011
Covering well-worn territory and offering no solutions, it ends up feeling shrill and angry and not nearly as profound as Chapman seems to think it is.
Can't wait until Thanksgiving dinner to witness a pointless conversation between a pompous fundamentalist Christian and a sneering atheist? Then The Ledge is the movie for you.
Chapman coaxes good performances from his cast, especially Wilson, who makes Joe's immense conflicts a matter of empathy as much as abhorrence. But Chapman doesn't have the filmmaking skills to conceal the talky, formulaic narrative.
