Review of The Walk (2015) by Filmphonic — 09 Oct 2015

This isn’t the first time you may have encountered Philippe Petit and his death-defying career, 2008’s Oscar-winning documentary ‘Man on Wire’ did a sterling job of illuminating this extraordinary event with the people actually involved and real footage. So, if you want to make this well know story explode out of the screen even further, you’ll need a visionary filmmaker, cinematic technician and accomplished storyteller. Enter Mr. Robert “Bob” Zemeckis in only his 2nd non-animated film in 15 years.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Petit and so we address the 1st major stumbling block, his “French” accent. Impressive when he actually speaks French but unintentionally comical throughout the majority of the film when he’s speaking English, we’re talking “Inspector Clouseau” level farcical.

If you can get past that then ‘The Walk’ is a mix of stylistically sentimental biography and a carefully planned caper with a generous sprinkling of performance art, all orchestrated with Zemeckis’ years of technical storytelling expertise . It’s also an attempt to eulogize the artistry of those who defy death, and a not-so-subtle tribute to the memory of the “Twin Towers” and New York City.

Needless to say ‘The Walk’ is a considerable visual achievement and an enthralling cinematic experience, challenging if you suffer from vertigo, or have a perfectly rational fear of extreme heights. The final scene is basically a stunning piece of cinematic performance art, but that alone does not make a great film.

The narrative plays out with a flamboyant and almost magical quality that’s rather misplaced and ultimately takes away from any real tension and jeopardy in a film where you know the endgame from the start. Despite the glorious final scene, the story and performances don’t delve deep enough into the unique psyche of a person who would attempt such a thing, ultimately ‘The Walk’ is an entertaining adventure that doesn’t do justice to the actual man and his feat the way that ‘Man on Wire’ does.

The Bottom Line….

‘The Walk’ goes heavy on style and visual presentation but light on substance and character, a stunning piece of performance art that’s never quite matched by the narrative or performances, and a good example of reality proving more compelling than Hollywood drama.