FILM

USA 2012 102 mins Dir: Asger Leth Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie, Genesis Rodriguez

Serving 25 years in the slammer, ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Worthington) is granted permission to attend his father's funeral. But after a graveside altercation with his brother Joey (Bell), he scarpers. And now here he is, stepping onto the ledge on the umpteenth floor of a swanky Manhattan hotel and threatening to splat himself on the pavement below. Naturally, a crowd swiftly gathers, wielding cameraphones and helpfully chanting "Jump! Jump! Jump!" The Evil Media seem equally ghoulish, with camera crews taking bets on how long it'll take him to leap to his doom. Enter the cops, but Nick won’t speak to anyone other than troubled negotiator Lydia Mercer (Banks), who's promptly rousted from her bed. Hang on a moment, though - what's this? Joey and his Mexican hottie girlfriend Angie (Rodriguez) are doing the Mission: Impossible thing as they break into a heavily fortified adjacent building. It seems that Nick's attempted 'suicide' is just a distraction while the intrepid duo secure the evidence that will prove his innocence.

Don't worry: I'm not giving anything away here. It's all in the trailer, and a lot more besides. A blend of the heist flick with the 'Phone Booth'-style single-location thriller, Danish film-maker Asger Leth's first venture into US action movie territory suffers from the familiar problem of a clever thriller set-up that's frittered away during a frantic and preposterous third act. Ed Harris really doesn’t get enough screen time as the villainous tycoon who even resembles Mr. Burns from certain angles. But if you think Mr. Leth is going to waste the opportunity to find a vital reason for shapely newcomer Genesis Rodriguez to strip down to her bra and panties, you are very much mistaken. (Robin Askew)

Website www.manonaledge.com/

Opens: February 3

Copyright Robin Askew 2012