My reaction was the opposite of Mr. Scott's. I enjoyed the first half and found the second half unsuccessfully formulaic. I expected liberties to be taken with facts in order to dramatize the story, so I didn't mind the "Amelie"-ish feeling of the first half. The second half didn't work for me because the "Man on Wire" documentary presented the preparations and problems without unnecessary embellishment -- they didn't need them.
Being a song-and-dance man is probably what made Joseph Gordon-Levitt so convincing as a high-wire walker. His physicality wasn't forced. I also found him charming, not annoying. I was pleasantly surprised by his accent. For the most part, his accent was spot-on, and his French didn't cause me to wince.
Being a song-and-dance man is probably what made Joseph Gordon-Levitt so convincing as a high-wire walker. His physicality wasn't forced. I also found him charming, not annoying. I was pleasantly surprised by his accent. For the most part, his accent was spot-on, and his French didn't cause me to wince.
Thoroughly enjoyed the entire film. Having previously seen the 'Man on a Wire' documentary did not diminish my appreciation of this movie.
And it was Amazing how I was affected by the portrayal of the 'walk' - it had me gripping the armrests even though it was just a movie.
I saw this film in Jersey City three days ago and was surprised that only one other person was in the auditorium.
A quality film like this deserves a bigger audience.
And it was Amazing how I was affected by the portrayal of the 'walk' - it had me gripping the armrests even though it was just a movie.
I saw this film in Jersey City three days ago and was surprised that only one other person was in the auditorium.
A quality film like this deserves a bigger audience.
1
I won't see this new film.
I've already seen and heard enough from various sources about it - and the little liberties it takes with the truth - such as Petit's supposed near-loss of footing (which never actually happened).
I saw "Man on Wire" - without a doubt the most compelling documentary I've ever seen. I'll never forget it as long as I live. Can't think of a lot of other movies I would say that about. And it is not the movie itself but the story. Though the movie does a great job presenting things.
The story is so truly amazing, why would anyone want to "dramatize" it?
This is precisely why I hate Hollywood and almost never see a mainstream movie - these people stop at nothing to cheapen the beauty and majesty of life. Any time I see a mainstream flick, such as "Selma" or "Lincoln" I am always disappointed - cheap, lowest common denominator junk.
I've already seen and heard enough from various sources about it - and the little liberties it takes with the truth - such as Petit's supposed near-loss of footing (which never actually happened).
I saw "Man on Wire" - without a doubt the most compelling documentary I've ever seen. I'll never forget it as long as I live. Can't think of a lot of other movies I would say that about. And it is not the movie itself but the story. Though the movie does a great job presenting things.
The story is so truly amazing, why would anyone want to "dramatize" it?
This is precisely why I hate Hollywood and almost never see a mainstream movie - these people stop at nothing to cheapen the beauty and majesty of life. Any time I see a mainstream flick, such as "Selma" or "Lincoln" I am always disappointed - cheap, lowest common denominator junk.
2
I love Mr. Petit. However, this movie was a horror. Left after an hour and a half - movie was "unbearable".
3
wow! then you missed one of the most incredible sequences in film history. The last half hour when *The Walk* is actually *performed* was one of the most viscerally affecting film scenes I've witnessed. It brought tears to my eyes--tears of wonder, delight, awe of the human spirit, courage, and accomplishment (Monsieur Petit's, the makers of the Twin Towers, and the makers of the movie).
I thought the opening was delightful; admit it drags a bit after; but finishes on top.
Go see it in Imax 3D asap, though; it's doing poorly at the box office so won't be around long.
I thought the opening was delightful; admit it drags a bit after; but finishes on top.
Go see it in Imax 3D asap, though; it's doing poorly at the box office so won't be around long.
5
Scary to see someone up there so unprotected. What if he fell? What if a plane hit the building and he had to jump?
A fine movie. Don't know why it is not finding an audience. I was the only person in the IMAX auditorium in Tuscaloosa yesterday for the first showing. Is the world finding it too soon to celebrate the WTC instead of mourning it? I was enthralled (as I had been by "Man on Wire" some years back). Gordon-Leavitt was, I though, delightful. I loved the tone of the whole movie, even the first half. Worked for me. Was most taken with director's use of 3D. Certainly the walk scenes were breathtaking in 3D, but I particularly liked his use of 3D in extreme close-ups of faces in tender moments. I guess maybe "The Martian" (which I also loved) may have blown this one away. If you can still catch in in IMAX 3D, rush right out!
9
I agree with your recommendation of the film.
1
And maybe for the first time in awhile, NO PRODUCT PLACEMENTS, at least I never saw Petit drinking a code. Thank You Mr. Zemeckis.
While the new movie definitely serves it purpose (I loved watching it in IMAX) it should exist in partnership with the documentary, particularly the way that feelings had soured between him and his accomplices. And apparently the real reason that his girlfirend hightailed it back to Paris was not to pursue her dream, but because Petit had sex with a groupie immediately afterwards before even going back to their hotel room. (This is by his own admission.)
1
Yes, I thought the same thing about the girlfriend too...a bit of whitewashing there at the end. But the rest of the movie and the 3D of the walk itself, fantastico!
1
Yes, Petit's jilting of his girlfriend was seriously whitewashed in this film. Interestingly, in this week's Torah portion we read the Tower of Babel, how the arrogance of ascending towers to the heavens to "be like G-d" leads to moral destruction, and as it happens, fissure of culture into multiple languages/discourses.
The event and the film show on levels touch on these... The advent of post-modernism and multiculturalism in the wake of the building's construction (and perhaps 9/11 expressing a fruit of these tends), and somewhat coarsely put: the ludicrously poor accents in the film that made the dialogue almost unlistenable!
The event and the film show on levels touch on these... The advent of post-modernism and multiculturalism in the wake of the building's construction (and perhaps 9/11 expressing a fruit of these tends), and somewhat coarsely put: the ludicrously poor accents in the film that made the dialogue almost unlistenable!
I just got out of the theater, and wow. I feel like I was on a roller coaster that didn't stop for an hour or more. I had to keep reminding myself that I was NOT up there, it was just a movie, I can't fall, I AM NOT UP THERE. Amazing special effects. Worth the somewhat slower start to get to the New York scenes and enjoy all the work and luck that went into making this surreal feat actually happen.
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. Definitely see in Imax 3D.
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. Definitely see in Imax 3D.
15
The naysayers here, and I was one of them until I saw the film, are completely wrong. This is a stupendous movie. I've been going to movies for about 50 years and never had an experience exactly like the amazing "The Walk". You are Phillippe Petit and you are out there on the wire. Don't miss it. And it must be seen in IMAX 3D.
15
I emphatically Agree. As amazing as "Man on Wire" recalls Petit's walk, NO actual motion footage exists. I wasn't sure how I'd respond to the IMAX-3D reincarnation of the twin towers -- Def takes you back, in amazingly accurate detail. This won't be a "Titanic"-like blockbuster, and the ramp up to the big event can seem slow -- but the payoff is there (at least, for me). Incredible that no motion video exists, of Petit's walk --This pays homage w/o over "Hollywood-izing" the events, the times. I find it a fine complement to "Man on Wire".
5
"no motion video exists, of Petit's walk"
Why do you say that? You need to watch "Man on Wire" again, as it does contain video of Petit's performance. A clip is even included in the Times review of "Man on Wire."
And, in this movie, there are clearly one or two video cameras recording from the second tower while he is out on the cable, so "The Walk" also seems to accurately portray what happened.
Why do you say that? You need to watch "Man on Wire" again, as it does contain video of Petit's performance. A clip is even included in the Times review of "Man on Wire."
And, in this movie, there are clearly one or two video cameras recording from the second tower while he is out on the cable, so "The Walk" also seems to accurately portray what happened.
2
Yes. Best use of 3D I've seen since "Hugo" and "Avatar."
1
I concur with Mr. Burns. The nastiness about Joseph Gordon-Levitt diminishes your review. Far from being a silly song-and-dance man, he's a wonderful actor of excellent range.
34
Thank you !
2
"You might have a harder time. Let me see if I can put the matter in scientific terms. Philippe, in addition to being an aspiring wire walker, is a juggler, a mime and a unicyclist. He is, as I’ve mentioned, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This makes him, objectively speaking, the most annoying person on earth."
why the ad hominem attack on JG-L?
he is a fine actor.
why the ad hominem attack on JG-L?
he is a fine actor.
30
Re-read the sentence. He's referring to the character, not the actor.
2
And the actor, both.
2
I don't find either annoying. I though JG-L was delightful as a delightful character (as written in the movie; I have no idea about real life or in "Man on a Wire"; haven't seen it).
As wonderful as the documentary was, The Walk takes us to places... emotional and "physical" ... that the documentary couldn't. It will also reach a wider audience than the documentary, which will cause more people to seek out Man On Wire. All these are good things.
12
Unnecessary movie which I can't imagine is better than Man on Wire. I would recommend people see Man on Wire rather than this Hollywood rip-off. That was one of the best documentaries that I've ever seen.
4
Couldn't agree more.
I won't see the new film - there are various liberties it takes with the truth - such as Petit almost losing his footing (that never happened, according to Petit himself).
One of the reasons I don't watch anything out of Hollywood - life is amazing enough; cheap gimmickry only debases it.
I won't see the new film - there are various liberties it takes with the truth - such as Petit almost losing his footing (that never happened, according to Petit himself).
One of the reasons I don't watch anything out of Hollywood - life is amazing enough; cheap gimmickry only debases it.
1
Yes -- after seeing the wonderful Man on Wire -- the real thing -- why would I go see a CGI version?
4
1st, because "The Walk" is awe-inducing (seen in Imax 3D).
2nd, a documentary film is not the real thing. It is a movie.
2nd, a documentary film is not the real thing. It is a movie.
I suppose this is a fine review, but to minimize the comparison to Man on Wire seems completely off. In my mind, that is the starting place. For whatever it may provide, Zemeckis' film can only be viewed through the lens of Man on Wire in my mind. That should be the starting point. Why is this film being made in the first place? All proceeds thusly.
7
But what about all of us who haven't seen "Man on a Wire"?
Of course now I want to see it.
I'm surprised at how many stick-in-the mud comments there are here by people who haven't seen "The Walk" and won't for whatever reason.
So they add a little suspense that is in symmetry with an earlier scene and a lesson he had to learn from it by making Petit have a little trouble on the wire at one point. It also is a metaphor, a life-lesson.
Lighten up, folks!
Of course now I want to see it.
I'm surprised at how many stick-in-the mud comments there are here by people who haven't seen "The Walk" and won't for whatever reason.
So they add a little suspense that is in symmetry with an earlier scene and a lesson he had to learn from it by making Petit have a little trouble on the wire at one point. It also is a metaphor, a life-lesson.
Lighten up, folks!
I can't imagine this being better than the documentary by the real people about 4 years ago. I will of course see this once it comes to my flyover state but can anyone compare it to the previous documentary on this subject?
2
I saw Man on Wire and this movie complements it well. It's not a remake of Man on Wire and doesn't feel like it is attempting that. Instead, it takes the viewer into the eyes of Petit as he walked the wire. It is an incredible accomplishment.
6
I watched "Man on Wire" and was completely captivated by the story and Mr. Petit. It is an outrageous stunt which he planned and carried out, completely on his own. No sponsorships, no endless hype and publicity.
I am so glad that this story is getting seen by a larger audience - it is inspiring and stands as a testament to our need, as humans, to complete what Joseph Campbell called the hero's journey.
I am so glad that this story is getting seen by a larger audience - it is inspiring and stands as a testament to our need, as humans, to complete what Joseph Campbell called the hero's journey.
16
"planned and carried out, completely on his own"
I believe you're missing important parts of the story to use language like this. He took the ultimate risk, but others took great risk and made great sacrifices without which there would have been no walk.
Perhaps the ultimate message that gets suppressed in stories about the Trade Center will be about narcissism and hubris: Icaris, Tower of Babel (read in the Torah this week)-- both of which have big reverberations in both the Petit story the "Big" story of the WTC.
At first I minimized Annie's rebuke about Philip's ingratitude; reading your comment, the illusion he somehow did this by himself, I now see that moment as a critical part of the story.
I believe you're missing important parts of the story to use language like this. He took the ultimate risk, but others took great risk and made great sacrifices without which there would have been no walk.
Perhaps the ultimate message that gets suppressed in stories about the Trade Center will be about narcissism and hubris: Icaris, Tower of Babel (read in the Torah this week)-- both of which have big reverberations in both the Petit story the "Big" story of the WTC.
At first I minimized Annie's rebuke about Philip's ingratitude; reading your comment, the illusion he somehow did this by himself, I now see that moment as a critical part of the story.
1
While I enjoyed reading this review and it's a motivation to see the movie, as an educator of the young , I'm troubled by Mr.Scott's flippant addendum! He should try teaching someday! Being an authority figure who tries to impart knowledge to the young, is no joke.
2
Just saw Mary Poppins today with my kids. It also condones trespassing, disregard for authority and neglect of personal safety. The kids loved it, and your comment reminds me of some of the lines of the father in that movie.
3
This movie, even at the rental price of .99 cents, and even with fast-forwarding through so much of the bad is horrible. There is zero drama because nothing is at risk. The film is lifted from the much shorter and yet much more fascinating, suspenseful and ultimately joyful "Man on Wire" The characters have been steam cleaned for the public. His parting with his girlfriend was a fascinating angle to the documentary, but we can't have a hero who doesn't fit some norm. How could you call this an accomplishment.
And let's not even talk about the device of Levitt doing his I'm telling you a story from the statue of liberty.
The documentary brought the towers to life, this film uses them as a prop for sentimental "Forever"s