First, the Recap:
Death-defying acts. It brings to mind a daredevil like Evel Knievel, for example, who consistently and (mostly) successfully pulled off some of the craziest and most life-threatening motorcycle stunts in history. His body most assuredly paid the price over time for the acts he performed, with a world-record 433+ bone fractures to show for his efforts. It makes one wonder what mentality a person like this has to risk everything for the sake of entertainment or simply being able to tell world they did it. In director Robert Zemeckis’ “The Walk”, it is Frenchman Philippe Petite (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who chose to do a daunting exploit in NYC circa 1974–walk a high wire between the World Trade Center buildings. Impossible!
From an early age, Petite had a fascination with being an entertainer, and eventually high-wire walking. Coming under the tutelage of an existing master, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), Philippe slowly built up his skill set from juggling, miming, unicycle riding street performer in Paris to a dedicated wire walker. Stretching his wire in more and more daring locations and difficulties, it all comes to a head when first seeing pictures of the World Trade Center structures in NYC. Accompanied by fellow performer and girlfriend Annie (Charlotte Le Bon), Petite comes to New York City, and gathering a motley crew of associated for his self-proclaimed “coup”, goes through the preparations to perform what would be become one of the single greatest feats in world history. Possible!
Now, my Mind:
Zemeckis has covered just about every film genre in some form, from science fiction (the “Back To The Future” series) to action/adventure (“Romancing The Stone), to classic, Award-winning drama (“Forrest Gump”). Now taking on real life, he deftly adds to his directing range in telling of Petite’s incredible journey from France to a thin wire 110 stories above the NYC streets. Nicely paced and filled with the right amount of backstory as to not oversell or be overbearing with the material, the viewer is treated to Petite’s youth and how his growing need to challenge himself when performing came about as he grew older. The story is actually “narrated” by Gordon-Levitt’s Petite, and the humor and light-hearted delivery puts an ease to the proceedings as the inevitable walk comes to screen.
Gordon-Levitt has actually been hit or miss with this reviewer over time, but here, French accent and all, he excels as Petite, portraying him with as a wonderfully simple yet passionate man, who had serious pride in his art, learned it with determination (and a little stubbornness) in taking his mentor’s guidance, and once set on making the goal in his sights, was willing to stay the course no matter what. And Gordon-Levitt brings this all to bear in his performance. Adding a suitable supporting cast to play the rabble Petite assembled to aid him in his proclaimed “coup” was an additional joy here, and Le Bon as Annie was undeniably attractive and adorable. The visuals go without saying, especially in IMAX 3D, and the walk itself, CGI notwithstanding, is truly awe-inspiring and potentially vertigo-inducing!
A great film that actually deserves more attention that it’s ultimately gotten, “The Walk” stands as another showcase of what human beings are capable of accomplishing–even if they HAVE to be at least a LITTLE nuts to do it!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
