Movie Review: Philippe Petit's Art and Dream- The Walk

"The Walk" is more of a tribute to the mighty towers that was World Trade Center that is hidden in the story of a man's dream, dedication, and love to his craft. This is not your ordinary follow-your-dream story. We laughed, we got tense, we followed through, we became part of the show. One of the best IMAX experiences we had in years.

Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), is aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, who overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan.  Robert Zemeckis, the master director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to theFuture, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story.  

Following Philippe Petit's life in the movie based on his biography is like working closely with him. You are given a chance to share with his thoughts and ideologies, and his dream. What made this film special is that it takes you into the protagonist's life and you just find yourself joining his adventures and misadventures. The jolly and misunderstood demeanor of Philippe from his childhood to the time of apprenticeship with Papa Rudy. He learned more than just walking on high-wire furthermore learning about himself and expanding his views about understanding others. 

It is amazing how regular people like us perfects skills similar to Philippe Petit's line-walking prowess. One of the strength of the film relied in the hyper-realistic achievement in recreating the feelings of walking on a high-wire and making the audience feel the similar rush of being up there in the sky with death under you.  

With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX® 3D wizardry, The Walk is genuine big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds.

Truly one of the films that takes your breath away, 'The Walk" is a great spectacle to watch in 3D. There have been countless times when the audiences are breathing heavily and exhaling comments and reactions of relief and excitements as stunts were performed in the film.

The skillful integration of humor in the script made the whole film entertaining. It gives us the playful side of Philippe and his growing number of accomplice as he plan his biggest masterpiece in World Trade Center. The film captured the adrenaline rush of several confrontation scenes, the tension between friends and lovers, the fight against careful balancing skills and gravity.

'The Walk' is a cinematic masterpiece on its own right. 

It is also one of the rare live-action films that is a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80 – and a triumphant true story to boot.  It is unlike anything audiences have seen before, a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the towers of the World Trade Center.

Petit is the only one in history who has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. It’s a role that few other actors could play as memorably. “This was one of those roles that felt so particularly tailored to my desires and individual talents,” says Gordon-Levitt.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Learns to "Walk" the High-Wire

The Walk (2015)
PG-13  |  123 min  |  Adventure, Biography, Drama  |  14 October 2015 (Philippines)


Our ratings: ★★★★★★★★★☆

TriStar Pictures presents in association with LStar Capital, an ImageMovers production, The Walk.  Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale.  Directed by Robert Zemeckis.Produced by Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, and Jack Rapke.  The Screenplay is by Robert Zemeckis& Christopher Browne, based on the book “To Reach the Clouds” by Philippe Petit.  Executive Producers are Cherylanne Martin, Jacqueline Levine, and Ben Waisbren.  The Director of Photography is DariuszWolski, ASC.  The Production Designer is Naomi Shohan.  Edited by Jeremiah O’Driscoll.  The Costume Designer is SuttiratLarlarb.  The Visual Effects Supervisor is Kevin Baillie.  Music by Alan Silvestri.