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    The Walk

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    … And as I sat there, both feet planted firmly on the ground in the dark theatre, my palms became drenched with sweat. “The Walk” is the kind of movie that deserves to be seen in the theatre. This story of an artist that is at least a little bit mad, but much better for it will not play the same at home. It demands to be experienced in the biggest theatre possible and in 3-D. I haven’t felt a rush like this in a long time.

    Based on true events, “The Walk” is the story of Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who, in 1973 had an epiphany. Or was it a sudden, uncontrollable obsession? Seeing the Twin Towers in a magazine, the street performer became determined to travel to America, to clandestinely set a cable between the rooftops and walk it without the use of a parachute, safety line or net.

    This film is about a seemingly impossible task, and in being brought to the big screen manages something quite astonishing. This quest is one that feels excessively foolish. As Philippe Petit recruits accomplices in his native France and in New York to help him fulfill his dream, you’re thinking that there’s no way that this is going to work. It’s also a dangerous, foolish idea… but quickly, you get it. This is not some pampered, snooty Frenchman arrogantly defying the world. The screenplay by Robert Zemeckis and Christopher Browne makes it clear that to be a true artist, a little bit of madness is necessary how else could you be bold, brave or stupid enough to come up with an idea that no one else has… and actually go to the lengths necessary to bring it to life? You can’t help but want to see it done. You understand why this is so much more than just a stunt. The more you think about it, the more you’re convinced. If this man can walk this tight rope between the two tallest buildings in the world (as they were at the time of their completion) well… publishing a book, making a painting, finishing those guitar lessons or being the best father/mother my children could ever hope for, that’s a piece of cake!

    When I hear that a movie is based on a true story, two questions immediately jump to my mind. “Will the characters that are altered/combined, the dialogue that’s made up, the timelines that are condensed and the events that are fabricated for dramatic purposes blend seamlessly with the facts” and, more importantly “is this a story that was worth telling, or is it only being told because it actually happened”? It’s an easy “Yes! ” to both questions. This is a combination of the inspirational story that is Philippe Petit’s with some charming moments of comedy and the best elements of a heist film. The sequences of planning the crime, setting up all of the equipment, dodging the unexpected obstacles that come up and the climax are tremendous. It’s got a little bit of everything with moments of pure jubilation and drama as well. As I alluded to earlier, you’ll find several scenes that are incredibly tense. Whenever the camera began to rise to show the scale of the action. I found myself compelled to stop slouching in my chair, lest I miss even a single detail of what was unfolding. The way the 3-D is used to pull you in and make you experience the fear, the adrenaline rush and the height of the buildings that Philippe scales in order to practice, or the establishing shots of the World Trade Center Towers themselves, it’s nothing short of masterful.

    I had no idea going into “The Walk” that Joseph Gordon-Levitt could so convincingly play a French acrobat. The stunts are completely convincing and his French is flawless. I was unsure if I would be able to forget that I was seeing an actor portraying a real person, but this is acting that truly absorbs you. I don’t want to shortchange the supporting actors, all of which have some solid moments. We have Ben Kinglsey as a mentor to Philippe, Charlotte Le Bon as Philippe’s girlfriend, Clément Sibomy and César Domboy as Philippe’s closest friends. They’re all great.

    When I think about this movie, I think of real, fiery passion. Not only in the character of Philippe Petit, but in the way “The Walk” is put together. This story was made for Robert Zemeckis to bring to life. This director has consistently delivered stories that hit on that emotional level while portraying fantastical stories that are so crazy they feel real and juggle special effects effortlessly. I can remember a few movies where the 3-D was used effectively and I jumped maybe once or twice, but here I counted at least 5 times. There were many instances where my eyes couldn’t have been shut it leaden weights were tied to my eyelids because I was so anxious to see what was coming next. Even though I knew where “The Walk” was going to end because I had heard of the man beforehand, I could not have been more enthralled. (3-D theatrical version on the big screen, October 20, 2015)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  24.10.2015 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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