THE WALK

(2015) 123 Minutes, Rated PG

A.C.’s Review:  The premise of this movie is very questionable. It tells the story of Phillippe Petite…a French daredevil who famously strung a wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center and made the titular walk. What may not be known is he crossed several times turning around each time before police could nab him on either tower and doing an impressive array of tricks such as lying down on the wire. Now back to the questionable premise…the trailers sell the movie on the danger of what he is doing and how he could fall. And of course the shadow of September 11, 2001 looms over these trailers. We know Petite did NOT fall however over 200 people were forced to kill themselves when despicable terrorist left them no choice but to jump in the face of temperatures few could imagine. It seems untoward playing on the possibility he might fall when real people had no choice but to fall.

With that said…I wanted to see the film just so I could see the Twin Towers restored to life so to speak in all their glory. I had visited them two years before their destruction and wanted to re-experience them. Following  9/11 there was a knee jerk reaction where film and tv actually removed the towers which I found offensive. 

Here they are embraced as the wonders that they were. Also it being a period piece set in 1974 it kind of allows me to go back in time too.

The most positive thing about this is that director Robert Zemeckis and his visual teams did such a great job on the World Trade Center that it felt as this could have been filmed on location before 2001. It was that well done. Also the whole sneaking in, recruiting accomplishes and ultimately the walk itself were entertaining and engaging. That is the last 75 minutes.

Now for the bad. The first 75 minutes were excruciating as we learn about Petite. Zemeckis who was so brilliant in the second half of the movie ruined the beginning by using all kinds of crazy camera tricks to draw attention. Scenes would be filmed in black and white with just the objects in Petite’s hands were in color. There were crazy camera angles galore. Comic music and the strange choice of Petite narrating the film standing on the CGI torch of the Statue of Liberty. These tactics one would expect from a first time director not a seasoned pro. It made me really unsure if I had made the right choice to see this movie. Luckily the antics stopped for the most part for the second half. As for Petite himself…he must have been insane to do what he did…I just can’t imagine willingly stepping out on that wire!

The movie is struggling at the box office…I would blame part of it on the cash grab of almost all showings being in 3D or IMAX…but maybe another reason is people may still be unnerved by September 11^th and though the film never directly mentions the tragedy since it takes place long before the catastrophe as said before- the shadow hangs over the film and maybe people don’t want to be reminded. To its credit there is a subtle nod at the end of the movie that seems to honor the towers.

Best Scene: The frantic attempt to string the wire before the sun rises.

A.C.’s Rating: Matinee (should be seen on the big screen but not worth full price)