Score: 4.5/5
Walk the line if you dare — or if you’re Philippe Petit.
“The Walk” is an incredibly well done film that trims the fat on excess drama and makes for a triumphant film about the true story of a man chasing his seemingly impossible dream.
“The Walk” opens with street performer Petit, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, standing atop the Statue of Liberty’s torch telling the story of his most dangerous feat, accented by sweeping landscapes of 1970s New York.
From the time he was a young boy, Petit was mesmerized by tightrope walkers at the circus and vowed to become one as well. After mastering the tightrope in his own backyard, Petit sneaks into the circus tent to finally walk the rope he has been enthralled with for years.
After getting caught, he meets Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), the ringmaster for the circus who takes Petit under his wing. Petit’s focus on performing creates tension with his father until he is finally kicked out. After leaving home, Petit goes to Paris to perform on the street.
Petit stumbles upon an article about the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. He vows to hang his rope between the towers and walk across.
The film from then on covers how Petit made the walk possible, as well as the impeccable planning involved.
“The Walk” does a remarkable job of replicating ’70s New York and does an even better job of bringing the Twin Towers to life. Upon Petit’s arrival in America, the towers quickly become their own characters posing as steel and glass monsters standing between Petit and his dream.
While still under construction during the time period, the towers symbolize the growth and ambition in America at the time.
The trailer for the film paints the tightrope walk as a tense and stressful event filled with suspense, the actual scene feels peaceful and triumphant.
There are genuinely tense moments in the setup process as the assembled team is dodging security guards, the actual walk is a satisfying culmination of events leading up to it.
In a movie about a man walking across the gap between two buildings that no longer stand, computer-generated imagery is sure to follow.
Fortunately, the CGI does not take away from the atmosphere and does not ruin the movie because care and thought went into every instance of its use.
Petit experiences his setbacks in the story, but none of them hinder the walk or make him move the date. For some the film might be too easy of a watch without any major struggle.
This could upset some viewers for the fact the film brings no action to its storyline, however, appreciating the movie for the well-done picture that it is makes it worth the watch.
“The Walk” is easily one of the best movies of the year as a sleeper hit.