If you missed ‘The Walk,’ run and go see itDate: 1/22/2016 This week, I’ll look at the new film by director Robert Zemeckis that came and went from theaters almost without notice.
On DVD: The Walk
Director Robert Zemeckis frequently gravitates to productions that present technical challenges and feature state of the art special effects – films such as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Forrest Gump,” and “Cast Away.”
His new film is no exception. “The Walk” is a dramatic portrayal of the 1974 wire walk by Philippe Petit between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
While one might criticize the French accent used by star Joseph Gordon Levitt – the only non-French person in the cast playing a French person – I certainly didn’t find fault with the incredible visuals of the film that recreates the tower and the walk itself.
Levitt is Petit, a young man obsessed with wire-walking in his native France who sets his sights on doing what would seem impossible: putting a steel cable between the top floors of the two twin towers and walking from one to another. In order to accomplish this unlikely goal he first must perfect his ability on the tightrope and learn about how he could rig the cable between the two structures.
Then he must raise the money and gather a crew of accomplices to make this happen as well as scout out the towers – still under construction – and figure out how he could sneak the supplies he needs onto the 110th floor.
Making the walk itself seems to be the easiest part of the operation.
Zemeckis handles this part of the film, as he should – like a crime caper. All of the preparation works leads to the day at which the crew gets the cable in place and the walk is scheduled.
The director is good at building suspense and for anyone skittish of heights this film will present some queasy thrills. Although it was presented during its theatrical run in IMAX venues, I was surprised it wasn’t filmed in 3-D. I normally avoid any 3-D production, but the process would have added a level of “reality” that would have been impressive – perhaps too impressive for some.
Zemeckis chose an interesting device to frame the action of the film. Levitt as Petit provides narration while standing on the torch of the Statue of Liberty with the World Trade Center in the background.
It is a wistful sweetly romantic way of reminding people of the legacy of the towers.
Levitt’s performance is very good and it was interesting to learn that Petit trained him to wire walk. The climax was actually performed by Levitt on a green screen sound stage with the wire suspended 12 feet above the floor.
A film that combines an examination of artistic temperament with thrills and nostalgia, “The Walk” deserved more attention than what it received in theaters. It is a solid, entertaining story.
My only caution is that if you are afraid of heights, there will be some scenes that will leave you white-knuckling the arms of your couch.
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