The Ledge is one of many movies with a trailer that hooked me and made me think the film would be terrific. I reevaluated my decision when I saw that it made just $ 5,000 at the box office and earned a whopping 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, as I was updating my Netflix queue, I saw it was already coming to my house. So I gave the movie a chance that very night it arrived, thinking I’d have it on, but I would probably be glancing at it while doing some work online. However, I gave it a chance, and it hooked me. Usually, this type of movie would be one I would mock (see below). But for reasons unknown, the story caught me, and while the situation did get a little absurd, I didn’t see it as being unreasonable because of the characters and what drove these characters.
It’s present-day, and Gavin (Charlie Hunnam – Children of Men, Cold Mountain) finds himself on the edge of a high-rise rooftop, contemplating whether he should jump. Hollis (Terence Howard – Hustle & Flow, Iron Man) is the police detective assigned to draw him down. Hollis is the only one talking to Gavin. When he sticks his head out the window, he is just a few feet away from Gavin. The movie is shown through a present-day conversation between Gavin and Hollis while flashbacks of the past 48 hours play out. Unbeknownst to Gavin, Hollis has also had a tough morning, having been informed of something that questions everything in his life. The two men form an unshakable bond, one that grows closer and closer as the movie progresses. Gavin begins by asking Hollis about his situation. Hollis is purely interested in getting Gavin off the ledge but knows each situation is unique. He intently listens as Gavin tells him his story.
The story that Gavin gives Hollis involves Gavin getting involved with one of his chambermaids, a married woman named Shana (Liv Tyler – That Thing You Do, Armageddon). Shana is married to Joe (Patrick Wilson – Little Children, Lakeview Terrace). Joe is a strict religious fundamentalist who follows the Bible like it is the most governing law in the land. When he discovers the two are having an affair, he looks to the Bible to figure out how to handle the situation. Despite his public demeanor, Joe is a troubled man with a checkered past. He is conflicted and struggles with what he should do.
The relationships in the movie Gavin/Shana, Shana/Joe, Gavin/Joe, Joe/Hollis, and Hollis/his family make this movie enjoyable. The plot isn’t that bad. A wife cheats on her husband, and the husband has to react. The problems are 1) The lengths to which Joe takes the situation and 2) The religious undertones. Either Chapman knows the Bible well enough or didn’t learn how to effectively incorporate it because he tries to force-feed us Bible passages at times while, at other times, not even referencing it at all. 3) Joe has a daughter who is only talked about in one scene and not a part of his life (we never meet here). Yet, as he contemplates suicide, he keeps looking at her. I could say more about this situation and Joe’s predicament, but that would be saying too much for this review.
Plot 8/10
Character Development 9/10
Character Chemistry 9/10
Acting 9/10
Screenplay 6/10
Directing 6/10
Cinematography 6/10
Sound 6/10
Hook and Reel 8/10
Universal Relevance 8/10 (a hurt and betrayed spouse can do some crazy things when learning they have been cheated on)
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