Big Picture Big Sound

Walking Tall

The story of Philippe Petit is not new to movies. The Oscar-winning documentary from 2008, "Man on Wire", explored Petit's high-wire walk between the two towers of The World Trade Center in captivating fashion. Director Robert Zemeckis takes on the first feature film telling Petit's story.

"The Walk" has been released just in IMAX theaters a week-and-a-half before its wide release. This is the way to see the movie. Zemeckis doesn't use the IMAX 3D technology as a gimmick but places us in Petit's world. We are in the streets of France with him. We are on every ledge and tightrope Petit climbs. Your enjoyment of this film will align somewhere with your fear - or not - of heights.

Personally, I don't even like being on a ladder. Zemeckis effectively put me between his recreation of the World Trade Center towers and it made for a riveting, uncomfortable and completely involving movie experience - for the last hour of the film, anyways.

The first two acts of "The Walk" are never really spectacular. We are introduced to Philippe Petit (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who tells his story from atop the Statue of Liberty, with beautiful New York City and the Twin Towers as the backdrop. We periodically check in with Petit on the Statue of Liberty throughout the film, which is needless and takes you out of a movie that otherwise effortlessly pulls you in.

Once we are introduced, we learn that Petit has always been a bit of a clown. He always wished to be off of - and above - the ground, rather than standing on his own two feet against the pavement. His parents don't understand his fascination and eventually kick him out when they realize he isn't doing anything substantial with his life. He meets Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), who has made a name for himself as a high-wire artist. He takes Petit under his wing to show him a few tricks of the trade.

One day, Petit is taken aback by an ad he sees in a magazine. Two enormous towers are being built in New York City. Instantaneously, Petit's dream becomes to hang his wire between the Twin Towers. He recruits a team to help him with what he calls "the coup" because his dream his highly illegal. Petit doesn't care. He is stubborn and has made up his mind that he is going to achieve his feat.

He leaves Paris with his girlfriend, a fellow street performer named Annie (Charlotte Le Bon), and a few friends who have agreed to help him with the coup. After months of preparation, Petit travels to New York City to walk between the Twin Towers.

The final act of the film is spectacular for several reasons. The build-up and anticipation to watching Petit perform his act is exciting. The screenplay, which was written by Zemeckis and Christopher Browne, allows shades of vulnerability to slip through Petit's character. Then, once they sneak into the Trade Center, Petit and his crew hang the wire between the Towers and he steps foot, walking 110 stories above ground.

Zemeckis places his camera in every possible place that will make you uneasy. His walk is more exciting and thrilling than any action film to be released this year because we are performing this high-wire act along with Petit. We look up to the sky and down on the ground. We are on the wire. It's terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time.

"The Walk", as a whole, is an uneven experience. The first two acts of the movie are probably a two-star film - cartoonish and only giving us a thin representation of who Petit really is and what makes high-wire acts his passion. The last act massively elevates this movie into something you have got to see.  Zemeckis has also created a lovely Valentine to the great city of New York and ends the film on a pitch-perfect shot.

[Editor's note: I also saw the film in IMAX 3D and agree with Matthew that this is definitely the way to go. Don't wait for the movie to come to home video as you'll miss the visceral impact that the large format 3D image imparts. SEE IT IN IMAX 3D -CB]