The Walk review:Joseph Gordon-Levitt owns this movie. He carries this film beautifully, and like his character, carries his balancing pole with care.
The Walk review
Robert Zemeckis is back! No question about it. The man will always say, Back to the Future is the most definitive film credit to his career, but come on! As long as you have a brilliant style of direction, and maintain that style like Zemeckis does, the signature trademark will always be intact. That trademark from him is feel- good Hollywood film making. His ingredients are a sentimental musical score from Alan Silvestri, subtle special effects that are spectacular and a male protagonist that the audience will love and support from start to finish. I.E. Marty McFly, Forrest Gump etc.
Bob Zemeckis’ latest film, The Walk brings all those elements to the screen. Not just the screen, but the new Laser IMAX screen. It surpasses Blu Ray and makes DVD look old and frail. If you thought that visual technology couldn’t be any sharper, then think again. The Walk should only be played on IMAX to get the money’s worth of a mind blowing experience. Watching The Walk will make your jaw drop with the pristine cinematography and mind blowing visuals of the heights of the Twin Towers. The audience will feel they are with the experience of Joseph Gordon Levitt walking the wire, that you’ll feel nervous for him.
The Walk review
Based on a true story, the film is set in 1974, where high-wire artist Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) recruits a team of people to help him realise his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Centre towers. Even though what Petit was doing was highly illegal, not to mention dangerous, we root for him all the way. He is our protagonist that we like and want to see him triumph in his dream. It becomes incredibly sentimental and feels good to see him embark on his journey. The structure of the film is perfect to see Petit go through trial and error and when the film reaches the pivotal scene of the so called walking on the wire, the viewer becomes engrossed, in awe and in disbelief that this actually happened. The thirty minute sequence of the final act will make vertigo sufferers squeamish, as the Laser IMAX and CGI deserves an Oscar nomination as Zemeckis has once again hit hard with visual effects, even better than Forrest Gump.
This film belongs to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He carries this film beautifully, and like his character, carries his balancing pole with care. He’s flawless, charismatic and confident. His French accent is not bad, and the fact that Levitt speaks perfect French in the movie, demonstrates he is a determined actor that tries hard in physicality as well as accentuate intelligence. Like Forrest Gump telling a story through flashback and narration, the same ingredient is used in The Walk. Not on a bus stop bench talking to a random listener, but more rather Philippe Petit talking to us as he stands inside The Statue of Liberty torch with a great view of New York City in the background. Every ounce of planning was precise and perfect.
The Walk review
The Walk is a much watch movie. It teaches us to never give up on your dreams, no matter how crazy or challenging it may be. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything” should have been said here, hence hopefully for Zemeckis, he has put his mind to Oscar nominations which are practically in the bag. Cinematography guaranteed. Best direction, best picture and the underdog of best actor with Levitt would be well deserved.
The Walk review by Aly Lalji, October 2015.
The Walk is released in IMAX cinemas on October 2nd, and in cinemas nationwide on October 9th.
