Intense and impossible, but he did ‘The Walk’

BY

Ron and Leigh Martel
Movie Reviewers, The Friday Flyer

It’s finally here – the glorious Twin Towers as a cheerful and triumphant backdrop to an engaging movie. It’s a story about troubadour Frenchman Philippe Petit, who, in 1974, performed an incredible and illegal hi-wire act between the towers. But why risk death? Pourquoi? Petit explains, “Life for me is to walk on the wire; the wire is life for me.”

Director Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future,” “Forest Gump,” “Castaway”), who co-wrote the script with Christopher Browne, is a master of special effects that are used singularly to advance the story, with the emphasis on “story.” The coup d”etat includes ample footage of the walk itself, so you can almost experience the event for yourself.

A big screen feature, Zemeckis boasted, “We worked really hard to put the audience on those towers and on the wire.” At the premier, audience members with vertigo reportedly vomited. So, we ask, why were people with vertigo attending this movie in IMAX 3D? We saw it in standard 2D, and were able to appreciate the cinematography without incident.

Although not necessarily intended as a blockbuster, there is so much to like about this picture. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is brilliant as Petit, a half-crazed, fully dedicated Parisian street performer committed to reach for the clouds above New York City. Gordon-Levitt fans will once again be pleasantly surprised with yet another exceptional performance, where he not only speaks with a French accent, he speaks and even looks French.

We learn how Petit, as a youngster, was so impressed by a high wire act at a circus that he devoted his life to learning how to walk the wire, ride a unicycle, juggle and do magic. His father mocks, “My son the circus clown!” So Petit leaves for Paris, the city of lights, in order to become a street performer. Upon seeing a photo of the World Trade Center being built, he becomes obsessed with planning and executing his walk.

To take his skills to the next level, Petit enlists the assistance of Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), who grudgingly takes the arrogant Petit under his wings. Petit and girlfriend Annie (Charlotte Le Bon) then assemble a team of unlikely candidates to pull off this precision operation to string and secure the cables and rigging between the towers.

The story of this “caper” is almost as fascinating and intense as the walk itself. As this stunt is unlawful, he must settle for not necessarily the most capable or dependable cohorts. They must conduct this project without being detected or challenged by the hundreds of workers finalizing construction of these shrines.

Rather than creating yet another CGI monster, Zemeckis recreates a monumental reality. The 17-minute wire-walk is absolutely mesmerizing. Although an almost mystical simulation of digital effects, we revel in the engineering of the rigging, magnificence of the towers and spectacular dream come true for this fanatical entertainer.

As Petit, Gordon-Levitt narrates the story from the Statue of Liberty (gift from the French), with the towers in the background. He explains that wire-walking is as much mental as physical. Although Zemeckis uses extensive CGI, Gordon-Levitt does much of his own wire-walking. The real Petit insisted on teaching Gordon-Levitt the art himself.

“The Walk” is 123 minutes and rated PG for perilous situations. It is enjoyable for those of almost any age. The film is based on the book, “To Reach the Clouds,” by Philippe Petit, as well as the 2008 documentary of the same name. After thinking about his detailed but flawed plan, this man on a mission admits, “It’s impossible, but I’ll do it!”

The small-time street performer is not really “balanced” or on the best “footing,” but Petit proves to the world he is the “bien artiste” that he alone thinks he is. This stylish movie is exhilarating, breathtaking and exhausting, in a good way. The soundtrack includes, “I Want to Take You Higher.” So just grab your Freedom Fries and chant, “Boom chocka locka locka, boom chocka locka.”

Ron’s Rating: A-   Leigh’s Rating: B+