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In 2009, director James Marsh’s wildly entertaining Man on Wire won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Documentary. Now, in The Walk, Robert Zemeckis has turned an entertaining documentary into an IMAX adventure that’s not for the faint of heart (or anyone who’s even slightly afraid of heights).
The Walk tells the unbelievable true story of Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a French street performer who, in 1973, saw a newspaper article about the building of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and vowed to walk between the towers on a high wire. Knowing that it would be both extremely dangerous and entirely illegal, he immediately began gathering a team of willing accomplices and planning what he called “the artistic coup of the century.” As the chosen date approached, his team faced one setback after another, but he remained determined to move forward with his plan.
These eccentric characters and their mind-boggling scheme make The Walk feel like a fun-filled comic caper. It may take a while to get to most thrilling part of the film—Philippe’s legendary wire-walk—but Zemeckis builds the story in a way that’s still fast-paced and entertaining.
And, of course, at the center of it all is Philippe—the outrageous, adventurous, and lovably arrogant wire-walker who made the documentary so wildly entertaining. Zemeckis wisely focuses the film’s attention on his fabulously odd character, making him the subject, star, and flamboyant narrator of the film. And Gordon-Levitt relishes every over-the-top moment as his character plans, performs, or tells his story from atop the Statue of Liberty. His is a fittingly exuberant performance—and he makes the film silly and strange and amusing.
Still, it’s no surprise that the best part of the film—and the part that makes it worth every penny of that IMAX 3D upcharge—is its last act, when the Big Day finally arrives and Philippe and his team set out to put their plan into action. The suspense is breathtaking—even though you probably already know how the story plays out—but it’s not nearly as breathtaking as the views from the roof of the Twin Towers. It feels shockingly real. And though you may try to remind yourself (as I did) that it’s just a movie—that it was all done on a stage—you’ll still dig your nails into your armrest (or the arm of the person sitting next to you). You’ll still cringe with every step that the characters take toward the edge. And you’ll still hold your breath until everyone’s safe again on solid ground.
Very few films this year (if any) will take your breath away quite like The Walk will. If you’re afraid of heights, don’t even try looking at the poster. But if you dare to venture into the theater to see it, you’ll be in for an entertaining and exhilarating experience.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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