Why Robert Zemeckis’ ‘The Walk’ Will Leave You Breathless!

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#10 in my ranking of Robert Zemeckis’ films.

Robert Zemeckis had a particular motivation for making this film, and it wasn’t primarily due to the initial 90 minutes. While those minutes offer strong storytelling, what truly captivated the director was not Philippe Petit’s journey to become a tightrope walker, but rather the iconic stunt – walking between the twin towers of the World Trade Center using ropes.

Petit, in essence, is an unadulterated dreamer. Throughout the entire movie, we hear his voiceover, emanating from the Statue of Liberty’s torch with 1970s New York as a backdrop, and he exudes enthusiasm for his craft. He shares tales of his initial encounter with high-wire acts when he sneaked into a circus, his subsequent solo endeavors, and later, his apprenticeship under Papa Rudy. Eager to learn and fueled by an intense passion, he nurtures his fascination with walking between the soon-to-be-completed Twin Towers.

In his endeavor, Petit has the ability, understanding, and determination necessary to carry out what he terms as his “coup”. Throughout the movie, a recurring theme is Petit’s non-political perspective on this coup. The reactions of other characters towards him are influenced by their political views, but for Petit, it’s solely about the artistic expression and the act itself. He desires to perform it not as a means of sending a message, but because he believes in its execution.

Previously suggested, the narrative of this prequel is engagingly portrayed by both actors and editors. It’s commendable, but the film takes it a step further as the plot for the coup unfolds. The chase scene to the peak of the incomplete tower, filled with crucial gear, offers heart-pounding suspense. There’s the pressure of time, dozing guards, hidden perils lurking nearby, and even an injury that could complicate matters. At one point, the events border on the absurd when Petit removes his clothes in search of the fishing wire that was fired from the other tower.

The film’s primary purpose and its grandeur stem from the captivating walk portrayed within it, which left me with a hint of dizziness while viewing it on a 2D screen at home. Surprisingly, the immersive experience is convincingly realistic despite being almost entirely computer-generated. The suspense generated is so intense that this sequence becomes one of the most remarkable single special effects of the past two decades.

The film concludes by expressing affection for the towers, suggesting that Petit’s stunt sparked New York’s love for them at the very moment they were finished. It offers a gentle conclusion to such an impressive feat in filmmaking.

The overall film is quite enjoyable, but there’s one particular scene that’s so extraordinary it seems it could be expanded into a captivating short movie by itself.

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2025-01-16 00:16