As many have said before, Hollywood is really trying to make Sam Worthington happen. I used to be opposed to it, but after I saw his understated, dramatic supporting part in The Debt, I’m not so opposed to him anymore. Sure, in interviews he can seem like a meathead. But he might be a meathead with some quiet talent, a meathead who is making some interesting career choices. Take his new movie, Man on a Ledge, which we saw photos from last year. The basic story line: an ex-con climbs out on a ledge and claims that he’s innocent, and he was railroaded, and chaos ensues. It’s one of the rare “modern” stories that Sam has been a part of thus far in his career, and while I’m sure it will be billed as a star vehicle designed to make Sam “happen” – it actually looks like a decent ensemble. The directed added quite a bit of weight in the supporting cast, with Ed Harris, Kyra Sedgwick, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie and Edward Burns. Here’s the new trailer:

I kind of hate to admit that the trailer gave me some goosebumps. Things that I like: the production value can be seen – it looks like a smart, expensive film that actually filmed in NYC (which it did); I like the hints at the storyline, and I like that I can’t figure out the entire thing from the trailer. And I have to say, Sam doesn’t look too bad either. I can’t figure out if the character is supposed to have an Aussie accent, though. I actually think the character is supposed to be American, which… Sam has problems with.

So, will you help Sam “happen” and see this film in January? I might.

Photos courtesy of WENN.