The Walk

I'm affraid of heights, so I saw The Walk as something of a personal test. I admit that when Jospeh Gordon-Levitt's Philippe Petit, first peers out from atop the Twin Towers, making his way out on to the ledge, I thought to myself," I don't think I'm gonna be able to do this". But I did, and it was surely worth it. Now the setup to "The Walk" is not particularly enthralling, but Gordon-Levitt is appropriately larger than life and charming, even if his accent doesn't always hold up. The heavy use of voice-over narration, and a tacky decision to have Petit tell the story from atop the Statue of Liberty are also minor annoyances. Once the Towers operation begins however, The Walk is an unbelievably tense and unforgettable experience, employing technical wizardry and some great use of 3D, really putting the audience out there on the wire. For those similarly afflicted with a distaste for heights, the final 20 minutes will be at times torturous, yet also serene. You will feel anxiety no question, but the beauty of the big city down below, and the artistry on display, will aid in calming you down. The fact that Petit actually performed the dazzling acts of balance and technique is something which I will never be able to fully get my head around. It is superb to say the least. Bravo to director Robert Zemeckis for choosing to honor this man, whose high-wire masterpiece by all accounts, changed the way New Yorkers felt about the Twin Towers.