The Walk (2015), PG, ★★★

Here's my plan for this daunting challenge.

You have to dare to dream especially in a task that is life-threatening. The reason alone for performing such a life-threatening challenge is crazy itself and ludicrous mostly for the purpose of being more than a human being. What will he/she achieve? Fame, stardom, maybe get some celebrity endorsements. But, the event depends on the location on where this person can achieve such an impossible event that is borderline maniacal. This movie establishes a story that is muddled and patchy with its set-up as to who the daring person is but then redeems itself, which is a rarity for most movies today, in its second-half, especially in "The Walk" sequence. It's a quarter-baked, but 3/4's satisfying and entertaining movie which is enough to endorse the movie.

We go to Philippe Petit's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) story as we go on a journey with him as to what he becomes that led to the event of The Walk between The Two Towers of the World Trade Center. He narrates his story as we begin in France in 1973 when he was a street performer playing and entertaining crowds. However, he always runs away from the police because he is performing without a permit. When he goes to the dentist, Petit reads a magazine advertising the unfinished towers. He is instantly sold by the idea of performing a task with the Two Towers and his dream was born.

Philipe practices high-wire walking in a circus and at home, much to his parents' dismay. But, he gets the attention of circus owner, Rudy Omankowsky, "Papa Rudy" (Sir Ben Kingsley). He tries to chase Phillipe away but he impresses Rudy by juggling, and he later asks Rudy to help him practice wire-walking with the promise of payment. Philip tries to entertain crowds and attracts their attention from Annie's (Charlotte Le Bon) guitar performance. She is disdained with him but Philipe comments that he wanted to share the audience with her. After a conversation with her, he and Annie form a relationship and she becomes his first "accomplice" for his walk.

He also meets and befriends two other companions, Jean-Louis (Clement Simony), a photographer who is skilled at archery and manages shoot an arrow of proper wiring from one building to the other, and Jean-Francois (Casear Domboy), an algebra teacher who only speaks English when communicating numbers and math equations. Jean-Francois and Philipe both go to New York to surveil and inspect the towers and with confidence and passion, they try to figure out how to get a wire together for him to perform his walk.

The Walk. 

In my opinion, the visuals, cinematography and spectacle is what forces to grin and recommend the movie because it delves into the man's point of view of vertigo and courage. It takes a lot of spunk to perform a near-impossible task to cross The Two Towers. However, this is a love letter to New York itself as they glorify the construction of the Towers and how it connects emotionally with Petit into bringing his passion into America. To me, that is mesmerizing, because no matter how crazy any task is, any problem can be resolved in America but sometimes with consequences.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance with the French accent was a bit distracting at first as he sounds like Pepe from Looney Tunes sometimes but he carried his performance quite well with enthusiasm and rigor. In the end, he pays an homage to Petit. Le Bon and Gordon-Levitt have good chemistry. And, Kingsley, in a small role, is quite affective. The camaraderie between all the fellow actors are nice, sometimes, with the dialogue being a little stilted. Most of the movie is like a caper movie but except, they are not trying to steal anything. Well, maybe steal attention from most of the New York population.

But, it is Robert Zemeckis', the director of Back to the Future, Forrest Gump and Flight, movie. He creates a terrifying atmosphere in the "walking" sequence that is sure to have people close their eyes and hold their loved ones' hands as Petit performs his stunt. The second half is a winner, but, unfortunately, we have to go through the forgettable first half as the narration and tone is all over the map. Also, the pacing is not energetic and becomes a bit lethargic. However, when the energy kicks in, it is definitely a worthwhile experience. Zemeckis is an underrated director, but even though it is not one of his best movies, it is definitely an entertaining movie that persuades people to "go the distance" and dare to dream. I'm not saying go perform a walk on wire act after the movie is over.

(Note: Check out the documentary, Man on Wire, in which it is based on Petit and his walk. It's a better movie but it's definitely worth checking out.)

***