The year is 1974. Frenchman and high wire specialist, Philippe Petit, traveled to New York City where, like many others, his dream of making it big in the Big Apple awaited him. Unlike most, however, his dream laid 110 stories above the street. Pressing his chin against the newly-built north tower of World Trade Center, Philippe looked up at the seemingly endless rows of windows above him completely in awe. Gazing from one tower to the next, he saw what no one else did: A platform for the performance of lifetime.

“The Walk” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt retold the story of Philippe’s attempt to walk a wire from one tower of the World Trade Center to the next.
Coming out just seven years after the renowned documentary “Man on Wire,” “The Walk” is more of a Hollywood movie than a biographical film. The special effects and CGI were, at times, breathtaking and the 3D version may have even left some viewers nauseous. The relationships were heavily romanticized and the story was portrayed as almost comical. Realizing that the majority doesn’t watch documentaries, director Robert Zemeckis put well-known star Gordon-Levitt into a movie designed to entertain instead of to educate.

Speaking in a cliché French accent, Gordon Levitt narrated the movie from atop the Statue of Liberty. Portraying Petit as a romantic idealist wanting to send a heartwarming message to the audience, Gordon-Levitt made it easy to sympathize with him. Walking across the twin towers is insane, and unfortunately, what drove the man to this level of insanity was not well exhibited. Seeming too “sane,” the performance lacked a sense of reason and thus left the audience a little confused.

The movie relied solely on the riveting climax of the actual walk. Being able to show how extremely terrifying the walk truly was, the film captured the essence of the walk perfectly. The drawn-out scenes of Phillipe on the wire above New York City were incredible. By now special effects are just part of every movie, but there is nothing that will be able to fully prepare you for the dizzying display of the last 30 minutes. With the faint noises of the New York streets below, the wind gently whistling in ear and the wire sighing as it swayed, the tension and beauty of the walk is fully captured.

The beauty of the final half hour made the film worth watching. Though somewhat corny throughout, the movie was saved by the nerve-racking finale. As the movie came to a close, the twin towers faded from sight, and the last line hit the heart square as the realization that the towers are no longer standing came back. Overall, “The Walk” is another Hollywood dramatization of an incredible event. It fell flat when it came to the story, but when it came to incredible visual effects, “The Walk” was top notch.