A police officer looks to talk down a young man lured by his lover's husband to the ledge of a high rise, where he has one hour to contemplate a fateful decision.A police officer looks to talk down a young man lured by his lover's husband to the ledge of a high rise, where he has one hour to contemplate a fateful decision.A police officer looks to talk down a young man lured by his lover's husband to the ledge of a high rise, where he has one hour to contemplate a fateful decision.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
- Chris
- (as Chris Gorham)
- Frank
- (as Dean West)
- Housekeeper
- (uncredited)
- Detective
- (uncredited)
- Cameraman
- (uncredited)
- Patricia Wilson
- (uncredited)
- …
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
It's not a perfect film and it has its own flaws but it's one of the examples that makes me think that some critics may accept money from religious authorities to pan films like this with shallow and stupid reasons and criticism, which is scary.
It's the first or one of the pro-atheist feature film ever to be released in America. American people need such films a lot, so do other nations.
Matthew Chapman, an atheist who is a distant relative of Charles Darwin did a good job esp. As a screenwriter but I understand that some people can't still face the facts and love to hug their own imaginary friends.
The acting aren't that good or in some scenes even weak. But we can get the idea and educate ourselves from it. There are a lot of high budget and extravagantly high polished films with little to offer but this film can broaden some narrowed minds and enlighten some of the people.
7.3/10.
The main struggle is between a Christian with extreme beliefs, and an Atheist who just wants out. Uniquely, it's the only film I can think of that has an openly atheist hero and an A-list cast. And ironically, the few people who have complained about this show exactly what the film is trying to portray: that some people are so intolerant of atheism that even one movie among the thousands in history is too much for them.
To me, the star of this film is Patrick Wilson, who plays the fundamentalist. Instead of becoming a monster, his portrayal links completely normal passions like love and protection and revenge that we can all identify with, but then takes it to the natural conclusion, egged on by his convictions that anything he decides to do must be blessed.
Thus the central thesis of the film -- that belief can go too far -- is played out on a small stage. This is a drama of just 6 people, but the intricate explosions between them pull at the heartstrings far more effectively than a car chase in an action film would. We hear so much about the dangers of religion in big stories like 9-11, gay rights, and abortion rights. Here is a film about the dangerous of religion in the everyday, the dramas so commonplace that everyone who watches can find something in their own lives to compare it with.
Sure, I've never walked out onto The Ledge. But something about the masterful writing and acting in this film creates an authenticity that is undeniable.
Go ahead. Rant against atheism. Show us how intolerant you are. Violent words and deeds are the response of someone backed into a corner, desperate not to lose it all, just like "Joe" is in this film.
Unlike most modern cinema, rather than skirting the big issues of philosophy and meaning this movie tackles the hard questions head on. It was very refreshing to see how these ideas interacted with the characters and their motivations. I really don't want to give it away. Go see it, make your own decision.
One of the marks of this film's fascination is that it can be read in many different ways--essentially a thriller, it is also a story that questions the nature of human love, of our place in the universe, as well as the human relationship to whatever God might be worshiped. It features some outstanding ensemble acting by a quartet of four, each of whom defines a character with both strengths and flaws...rather perversely, one waits out the film to see a possible suicide, and as Hitchcock so often implicates members of the audience as voyeurs, one feels similarly (if willingly) manipulated here.
Did you know
- TriviaThe film's premise is somewhat similar of the Stephen King short story, also called "The Ledge".
- GoofsAt 1:12:27 into the movie, as the camera pans to Gavin on the ledge talking to Hollis, the sun is high casting only a partial shadow ton the gray building in the background. The camera then switches to just Hollis looking out of the window, and when it goes back to show Gavin again, the shadow on the gray building behind him covers it almost completely. But the next two times we see Gavin at the same spot the shadow moves back and forth, revealing that the scenes were shot earlier but cut in for the sake of the narrative.
- Quotes
Gavin Nichols: [after Shana tells Gavin she and Joe are going to a new church that does missionary work in Uganda, that's against smoking, drinking, immodest dress for women and secular music]
[scoffs]
Gavin Nichols: Jesus Christ. Restrings your guitar one day, stops you from playing it the next.
Shana Harris: You're so flippant, aren't you? You have no idea what it's like to lose everything and to try and put it all back together again.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Conan: An Atheist Named Faith (2011)
- SoundtracksEverything
Written by Nathan Barr and Lisbeth Scott
Performed by Lisbeth Scott
- How long is The Ledge?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Au bord du gouffre
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,216
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,176
- Jul 10, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $1,345,871
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1