"The Ledge" In the News

	TV Appearances
	Liv Tyler on The View Patrick Wilson on MSNBC Patrick Wilson on Fox 5 New York Liv Tyler and Matthew Chapman on the BBC News Liv Tyler on Pop Sugar Patrick Wilson and Liv Tyler on "Milling About" the blog talk radio show
	Greta Christina Review: Sex, Love, Revenge ... and Atheism? Finally, a Big New Film that Shows Non-Belief in a Positive Light
	"The Ledge" is smart, riveting, complex, emotionally engaging, visually gorgeous... and best of all, almost entirely unpredictable. more >>
	Review: The Ledge with Patrick Wilson
	Gripping and deeply moving... one of the most intimate contrasts between religious fundamentalism and desultory existentialism ever portrayed... earth-shattering. Rarely are films able to transcend their medium and become something larger than life... Liv Tyler is a master of being the dual-personality woman riddled with mixed emotions... The Ledge is a superb film who's praises I will sing like a soprano. more >>
	Review: Huffington Post: Sundance/IFC's The Ledge -- God as Opiate
	Liv Tyler is hypnotic as the good/bad girl... irresistibly subtle, yet alluring... The Ledge held me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, which is a very good thing these days, when I am tempted to give up on many pictures after only five minutes.... The opening frames of the movie are immediately visually stunning. Shot so cleanly and sharply as to almost look like a graphic novel... With the plot set in motion the film sets out to thrill us and take on the ever conflicting subject of faith vs. atheism. Not just religious faith, but faith in people, marriage, and an examination of life's uncontrollable tragedies. more >>
	Movieline's Interview with Patrick Wilson: Patrick Wilson on The Ledge, Reckless Faith, and Visions of Ted Bundy
	...part philosophical thriller, part potboiler, all head trip, with one of the wilder climaxes of any thriller you.ll see this year. Much of that is attributable to Wilson... more >>
	Podcast Interviews with Matthew Chapman
	July 5, 2011: Living After Faith July 4, 2011: Point of Inquiry July 1, 2011: American Freethought June 22, 2011: Humanist Hour

Matthew Chapman Press Releases

• 6/2/2011 - "The Ledge" Trounces Thor to Place 3rd in Russia Opening Week

• 5/16/2011 - Atheists Get Their "Brokeback Mountain" Moment in the New Sundance Film, "The Ledge"

• 5/16/2011 - "The Ledge" Moves the Focus on Religious Violence from the Epic to the Personal

• 5/14/2011 - An Interview with Writer and Director Matthew Chapman

• 5/14/2011 - Quotes from Writer and Director Matthew Chapman

Contact

Cast and crew are available for comment and appearances. See the Contact Page.

Press Facts

Topical Ideas

• Is "The Ledge" the Biggest Atheist Film of All Time? Indiana Jones didn't have much use for religion, but he knew how to avoid gazing at the Arc of the Covenant. What other Hollywood films (not documentaries) have featured atheists and what were their underlying messages?

• What Lessons Can Be Drawn From "The Ledge"? If you were submitting an article to a magazine, would The Ledge help you make one of your points? Does The Ledge move the discussion forward or just rehash what's already been discussed for the benefit of people new to the conversation?

• Alternative Endings. What ending would you have put on the film? Without spoilers, can you comment on whether the ending worked for you?

• Do Radical Beliefs Lead to Radical Actions? Do you think that the fundamentalist in this movie is just a bad person, or is religion really to blame? Why do people blame specific religions for hatred of gays, for example, instead of blaming faith as a concept by itself? Besides 9/11, how often does religion turn directly murderous?

• What Would You Die For? Ultimately, the atheist is confronted with the ultimate dilemma, to save his own life or someone else's. What would you do in his situation? Are atheists, not believing in an afterlife, capable of this kind of courageous sacrifice? Are there "atheists in foxholes?" Have you been one?

• Is "The Ledge" a Good Primer for New Atheists? Let's say you have a friend who is curious about atheism. Is this a good movie to introduce the topic? Do you prefer a book with its intellectual rigor and completely laid out arguments? Or do you think the mainstream appeal of a feature film might draw in those put off by academic arguments?

• Who Won the Debate in "The Ledge"? As part of the film, a Christian fundamentalist and an atheist agree to debate. Who scored points? Who won? Did each use the best possible arguments, and if not, which arguments would you have preferred?

• Has Anything Like "The Ledge" Happened To You? What's your best story about coming into conflict with someone with differing beliefs? Have you been married to a man or woman like Joe (Patrick Wilson) whose religion dominated the marriage? Tell us your story.

• How Realistic is the Movie's Premise? Harassment leads to suicide far too often, but by accident. How likely is blackmail as a deliberate murder weapon? Has it ever happened before?

• Who Should See the Film? What kind of person will "get" or "not get" this movie?

• Should "The Ledge" Be a Rallying Point for Atheists? Is this a must-see movie for atheists? In your opinion, does the film move forward the social acceptance of atheists?

• What's Your Favorite Quote from "The Ledge"? Where's the "Hasta La Vista" line?

• What's Your Favorite Scene? When did you find yourself holding your breath in this movie? Was there a scene when you had to look away?

• What Happened When You Shared "The Ledge" with a Friend? Did they see it as a thriller that happened to involve atheism? Were they outraged by it? Can it change minds?

• How Biased is the Film? Writer and director Matthew Chapman is a celebrity atheist. Having a strong point of view can be a good thing, unless it is obviously unfair. Do you find "The Ledge" reasonable or more like propaganda?

• How Would You Balance Duty and Sacrifice? The fundamentalist in this film struggles with whether to join a mission in Uganda or stay where his wife can attend college. The atheist in the film struggles with whether to "rescue" Shana from her controlling husband or leave well enough alone. What would you do?

• What Are Our Values on Cheating? Atheists say that they don't need the Bible to be moral. Without God, what are our values on cheating, which happens in two different ways in the movie? Who's right, who's wrong, and who's well-meaning enough to be forgiven?

• What Do You Think of the Atheist's Portrayal in the Film? Gavin, played by Charlie Hunnam, has plenty of personal problems and bad habits. Does this lend realism and character depth to the movie, or do you wish that Gavin was more of a white knight?

• What Do You Think of the Liv Tyler Role in the Film? Writer and director Matthew Chapman says that after several screenings women came up to share their stories of marriages dominated by crushing religion and that Liv was an inspiration to them. Do you see Shana as a weak woman, a pawn to be fought over by the men, or is she, as these women said, ultimately an inspiration?