Review of The Walk (2015) by Richard E — 07 Oct 2015

If you really want my advice, you *must* see this movie in IMAX 3D. This is the one to splurge on, especially if you have a fear of heights in any way (and I think most humans do). When I experience my fear of heights, I get this crawling sensation in my legs. It feels like a creature is in my muscles, and clamps down to make them freeze in place. Watching the scene of the actual walk was just like that, but for 40 minutes! Okay, maybe no really 40 minutes, I didn't time it, but it was a long time! Toward the end of the walk, I noticed that my head was shaking, my breathing was tight, I was sitting straight up, my legs were almost curled underneath my seat, and my hands gripping each other in my lap. That trill alone is worth the price of the ticket.

As for the story, it's beautiful. There have been so many movies about the 9/11 tragedy, and I understand that. As a nation, we have been mourning. As the mourning process goes, we eventually stop thinking about the sadness of the loss and we start thinking the happiness that was had. Philippe Petit gave us all that happiness at the birth of the Twin Towers. His walk was an exciting moment that the whole world noticed.

His story is the American story. He dreamed, prepared, and dared to do something impossible. He surrounded himself with people who believed in him. And when the time came to take the risk, he did. He quieted all the voices in his head that asked, "What if I fail?" Because the only answer was, "Don't." Failure for him would have been fatal. The only option was success.

This movie reminds us of that American story at a time when so many are only trying not to fail. We're living to not lose, instead of living to win.

I could go on further about this movie, but I won't. It simply must be experienced to be fully loved. Also, just as Petit knew when he was on his wire, one must also know when it is time to stop and move on.