Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Director Robert Zemeckis’ The Walk is an entertaining and heart-stopping biographical drama that balances its somewhat slow start with a genuinely breathtaking second act.
Based on a true story, The Walk lets the audience accompany French high-wire artist Philippe Petit as he prepares to perform the illegal and dangerous feet of walking a high-wire atop the then-newly constructed World Trade Center’s twin towers.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt sports a thick Parisian accent as he portrays Petit in the film. Gordon-Levitt is magnetic as the high-wire artist, but its the visuals and the Zemeckis’ filmmaking prowess that really steals the show.
The remarkable thing about this movie is how Zemeckis managed to bring an incredible amount of tension based on a fairly well documented event.
It is a testament to the director’s skill that those familiar with the actual 1974 walk, would still find themselves at the edge of their seats once Levitt takes his first steps on the wire.
Another aspect of the film that deserves plaudits is the jaw-dropping visuals that it presents. Though only presented on a screen, The Walk still gave the illusion of height and depth to the viewer.
Though it relied heavily on CGI (computer-generated imagery), it is done so well that those with the fear of heights would best avoid the film.
