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Matthew Chapman Gets The Allure of Fundamentalism And 5 Other Things We Learned About 'The Ledge'

By Mark Zhuravsky
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July 8, 2011 3:08 AM
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Says He Still Hasn't Seen 'Black Water Transit' & Is Prepping A Period Film NextMatthew Chapman made waves this year at Sundance, with the premiere of "The Ledge," his first time in the director's chair since 1988's "Heart of Midnight." "The Ledge" is a thriller that follows a dangerous affair between the atheist Gavin (Charlie Hunnam) and Shana (Liv Tyler), the wife of the fundamentalist Christian Joe (Patrick Wilson). When Joe learns of the affair, he goes to great lengths to punish Gavin and his wife, believing that he's well within the bounds of justice set down by the Bible.

By Mark Zhuravsky
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July 6, 2011 4:16 AM
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3 Comments

Matthew Chapman’s “The Ledge” is sure to provoke plenty of ire. The film, Chapman’s first directorial outing since 1988’s “Heart of Midnight,” opens as a fairly conventional thriller – Gavin (Charlie Hunnam), stands out on a ledge and threatens to jump while detective Hollis (Terrence Howard) plays negotiator. As Hollis pieces together that Gavin’s not up here by choice, we jump into a series of flashbacks that explore a forbidden romance that takes root between Gavin and Shana (Liv Tyler), the wife of Joe (Patrick Wilson). Here’s the particular draw of “The Ledge” (and a marketing plot that’s been too heavily leaned on) – Gavin is a pronounced atheist, and Joe is a fundamentalist Christian. Their beliefs heavily motivate how the events of the film play out and several scenes are imparted to impassioned debate between the two. Depending on which side of that debate the viewer is on, they may balk at Gavin's aggressive tearing down of any and all religion or Joe's faith-based homophobia and general "holier-than-thou" demeanor.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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May 3, 2011 5:08 AM
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5 Comments

Those quiet religious types are always hiding a bit of crazy, aren't they? Anyway, at least in "The Ledge" they are, as it centers as a Bible thumper who gets off-the-crucifix crazy when he finds out his wife is taking advantage of the pleasures of the secular flesh.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 24, 2011 6:10 AM
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1 Comment

Yep, more acquistions and if these stories seem dry as toast, bear in mind, these are the films that have risen to the top of the Sundance heap and will be trying to take that buzz beyond Park City.

By Simon Dang
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December 15, 2010 2:56 AM
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The update of the Sundance website every year brings with it the release of plenty of first looks at the latest batch of films set to premiere at the upcoming festival. This year is no different.