The Walk
The Walkis an entertaining and often thrilling piece of storytelling, in addition to being an impressive display of 3D filmmaking.
The Walkstars Joseph Gordon - Levitt as Philippe Petit , a French street artist who becomes obsess with tightrope walking at a young years . Philippe hone his craft under the steering of the experienced eminent - wire performing artist Papa Rudy ( Ben Kingsley ) , before setting out to " hang his wire " in a variety of ambitious and dangerous locations - sometimes illicitly , if need be . However , after see an image of the mid - construction World Trade Center , Philippe decides that his dream is to execute the artistic " putsch " of the hundred : walk a mellow - wire strung between the Twin Towers .
Philippe , with assistance from his friends and fellow artist / lover Annie Allix ( Charlotte Le Bon ) , travels to 1970s New York to fulfill his ambition , along the way picking up additional " accomplices " who facilitate him scope out the World Trade Center and be after their operation forwards of clip . However , as Philippe ’s escort with fortune approach path , even he begins to wonder if the disturbed musical theme is truly executable … and if his most challenging high - wire walk yet will also be his last one .
Zemeckis and his script Colorado - writer Christopher Browne ’s screenwriting approach , in twist , elevatesThe Walkbeyond a re - enactment of Petit ’s lordly " coup d’etat " and transform it into aBig Pisces - esque parable about the American dreaming - one that doubles as a refreshingly subtle ( and even touching ) ode to the World Trade Center and what it typify , through the oculus of Petit . The Walkoften endeavour to reach the same polarizing notes of whimsey as old Zemeckis movies have ( Forrest Gump , in special ) - sometimes to skillful effect than others , while try Petit ’s " origin story " during the story ’s first bit . However , once the plot go further into heist genre soil ( standardized toMan on Wirebefore it ) during its second act ( and the rig shifts from France to the U.S.),The Walkreally - excuse the pun - hits its stride .
Unsurprisingly , it’sThe Walk ’s third act that really impresses , as Petit ’s famous " walking " brings both his personal journey and the overall film to a climax that ’s both nervus - wrackingly exciting and thematically satisfying , at once . Zemeckis and director of picture taking Dariusz Wolski ( thePirates of the Caribbeantrilogy , Prometheus ) practice immersive photographic camera angles and shots to powerful gist throughout the movie - tear viewers deeper into Petit ’s fast - moving and colourful world - yet it ’s with the setup and execution of Petit ’s Twin Tower " walk " that the movie unfeignedly breaks new ground , as an case of what 3D can be used for in terminal figure of cinematic storytelling . The Walkdoes not systematically push the boundary of 3D craftsmanship like Alfonso Cuarón’sGravity , but it does reach similar artistic prime with the eponymous sequence - enough to make Zemeckis ' celluloid must - see material in both 3D and IMAX , on its own . ( Those fright of heights - consider yourselves warned . )
Beyond that , The Walkboasts a adorable , softly lit , optic style that allows the plastic film ’s world to resemble something from a dream or a nostalgic store not altogether ground in reality ( like toLife of Piin that regard ) . This chemical element further enhance the thought that Zemeckis is n’t create a docudrama about Petit ; rather , this version of the report is informed by Petit ’s eccentric outlook and the film ’s look reflects that story framework , esthetically . That is in increase to the liberty that Zemeckis and Browne take with the fact that inform their script study , for creative purposes ( e.g. to mother more striking tension in the story when necessary , and so forth ) .
Joseph Gordon - Levitt agilely accommodate the smell of the real Petit ( blue eyes , orange whisker , sinewy physical build ) with his play inThe Walk , while also boasting a reproducible French accent that ( arguably ) sound just as authentic as the genuine French accent that certain of his costars here possess . However , like with any great public presentation , it ’s not how Levitt shift his appearance that make Petit come animated as a character ; it ’s his unbridled ( and sometimes boundary line - line erratic ) passion and manner that crap the role player soundly convincing as a gentleman willing to do whatever it make to attain his " impossible " dreaming . The Walk , as mentioned before , is n’t always as naturally whimsical as it aspires to be , but Levitt is very much the beat heart that chip in this lustrous display of 3D cinematic showmanship life .
Still , the abide characters inThe Walkare not as fully developed as Petit ( and the real - life important use they played in executing Petit ’s " coup " is arguably played down at times ) , yet Petit ’s accomplice each have a distinct personality . bring in a dainty mix of humanity and humor to their respective roles are such talented character actor as Charlotte Le Bon ( The Hundred - Foot Journey ) , James Badge Dale ( Iron Man 3 ) , Ben Schwartz ( Parks and Recreation , House of Lies ) , and Steve Valentine ( A Christmas Carol ( 2009 ) ) - with Ben Kingsley polish up out the potent ensemble as Petit ’s curmudgeonly wise man , Papa Rudy .
The Walkis an entertaining and often throb patch of storytelling , in addition to being an telling presentation of 3D filmmaking . IfFlightrepresented Zemeckis ' paying back to phase after several age of directing polarise motion - seizure lineament films , thenThe Walkdemonstrates the director is still invested in telling neat stories through whatever slip - edge filmmaking applied science is available to him . WhileThe Walkisn’t on the same level asGravityas a whole experience , it nevertheless does raise the barroom for future 3D filmmaking venture in numerous ways - while still incorporating the core ingredient of any good movie ( good performance , hearty committal to writing , etc . ) .
Those who have never seen Petit ’s story fetch to life before may findThe Walkto be an inebriate interpretation of his narration - one that should be experienced on the large screen available . Some fans ofMan on Wiremight findThe Walkto be more of a style over substance take on the same narrative ( and could also take issue with how it departs from the facts ) ; but again , those open to a dissimilar interpretation of the same plot may find Zemeckis ' film to be an equally admirable take on Petit ’s " artistic crime of the century . "
The cast of The Walk
TRAILER
The Walkis now run in select IMAX 3-D theaters , and will expand nation - widely on October 9th , 2015 . It is 123 minutes foresightful and is rate PG for thematic component involve parlous position , and for some nudity , language , brief drug references and smoke .
Let us know what you think of the moving picture in the comment section !
Robert Zemeckis ' biographical drama The Walk tell the unfeigned story of Philippe Petit ( Joseph Gordon - Levitt ) , a French high - wire artist who walked between the Twin Towers of New York ’s World Trade Center in 1974 . The real - life lunatic played a key role behind the scene , training the actor to take the air on the wire .
The cast of The Walk
