Movies in a Minute: ‘The Walk’

TWELVE people have walked on the moon.

You’d have to ideal all those skills and more if the walk we’re talking about is “The Walk“, the awesome true-life story of one Philippe Petit, a mad genius of a tightrope walker who in 1974 schemed his way into the brand-new World Trade Center’s twin towers, made his way to the roof with a small band of accomplices, hastily constructed a rig – and took a 140-foot stroll a few 100 stories above the ground. But with any tragic loss, it’s also good to remember the positive things, the lovely memories that you have. I felt a little bit queasy.

“With a driving plot of near misses and almost-catastrophes, audiences – despite knowing that the ragtag team pulls off the deed in the end – are left on edge, thanks to Zemeckis” brilliant direction.

We flash back to Philippe’s days in Paris as a street performer, including a meet-cute with a lovely aspiring pop singer named Annie (Charlotte Le Bon) and the introduction of an obligatory gruff father figure/mentor (Ben Kingsley, working one of those Kingsley accents that seem to be a mash-up from about three different countries).

Zemeckis, always pushing the boundaries of filmmaking, thought the documentary was magnificent, but continued his decade-long journey to make the movie knowing he could show viewers a new perspective. Creating realistic depictions of the towers was a combination of an extremely large set in Montreal and months of digital recreation.

And this Friday, we have a film that replicates and celebrates one of the most fantastic feats known to mankind!

For the first time, there’s also moving images of the walk itself – giving a unique perspective from both the observer and Petit’s point of view. What’s more, verbalizing Petit’s inner life actually robs Gordon-Levitt of the chance to convey it. “The photos are incredible, but it’s different to seeing it unfold”. You have to clear your mind of all that stuff and just be present. Expecting more from their son than being an acrobat, his parents kick him out. Perhaps. But I’m not sure my stomach could have handled wind. “Rather than slavishly imitate, I absorbed what I loved and admired about Philippe, and played my version of that”, he explains. “It’s his character”, notes the actor.

Overall, The Walk is a great piece of cinema that is a joy to behold.