The Walk (2015)

This movie really moved me as I can't stand heights and my heart rate went up hugely as I watched the walk as it was so realistic. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who speaks French fluently, was very good. The direction and cinematography were brilliant.

I really enjoyed this movie! I watched it last night (alas, on the small screen) and came in to work this morning recommending it to all my co-workers.The Walk recounts the remarkable true story of Philippe Petit's no-less-than-legendary tightrope walk between the towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.I was just a teenager when this remarkable exploit took place, literally above the heads of early-morning Downtown office workers, and only vaguely remember the way it happened, but watching this movie brought to the fore the background story of how Petit first became enamored of the Twin Towers and the immense planning that went into this stunt. I would imagine that few who know of Petit realize that he had quite a retinue working behind the scenes with him, so this movie is their story as well. Being a New Yorker (and one who works Downtown, no less), what I found so amazing in the retelling of this tale was the nonchalant way that Petit and his cohorts, during both the planning and execution of this feat, managed to access the upper deck of the World Trade Center virtually unchallenged while it was still in the very midst of being constructed! Anyone who works Downtown today (in the sad aftermath of 9/11) will marvel at how lax security was in those innocent times. Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a fabulous job in this role. He is so charming and so engaging as the goal-oriented, indeed obsessed, but always good-natured Petit. You cannot help but get swirled up in his enthusiasm for his plan, which he and his accomplices have dubbed "The Coup" for the extraordinary headline-grabbing event that it turned out to be. One of the things I loved most about this movie, in addition to the infectious élan of the protagonist, were the scenes of New York from 1974. Generally speaking, I do NOT care for special effects, but the CGI here was extremely authentic in the way it reconstructed New York from 40+ years ago. Considering how different this ever-changing city looked all those years ago, the effects were very realistic to the time. The scenes from the top of the WTC showing the streets below were nothing short of awesome and again, very realistic. Knowing Downtown as I do I was able to pick out many individual landmarks with which I am so familiar. I also loved the scenes - again, computer-generated - where Petit is narrating his story from the torch of the Statue of Liberty, with the 1974 outline of Downtown in the background, an outline which in reality is very different today since the advent of Battery Park City and World Financial Center (which were in fact built on landfill from the excavation of the WTC). This is my long-winded way of pointing out that someone did his homework in the making of this movie, and this New Yorker is thoroughly impressed with the finely detailed results! This movie was downright thrilling! It was extremely suspenseful, to a point toward the end where I was watching it curled up in a tense little ball and peeking through my fingers - even though I knew it was going to end on a triumphant note - as Petit performs his death-defying (and police-defying, LOL) antics on the tightrope he has so painstakingly rigged. Speaking of the ending, that was what I truly loved most about this movie. What I found so touching was the way the movie came across ultimately as a paean or love story to our beloved Twin Towers. It brought tears to my eyes.In conclusion, a very entertaining movie. (Perhaps a tad too long, but still wonderful.) I only wish I had got to see it on the big screen where it deserves to be seen. It takes almost a suspension of belief to grasp that the central event of this movie really took place. But it did. Only in New York.....

The Walk is based on the true life story of Philippe Petit, a French wire-walker. No need to say that Philippe Petit was a bit crazy in the head. You need to be to actually perform such a crazy stunt. The movie is very pleasant to watch, with some stunning special effects. Being afraid of heights myself I could really feel the tension of the guy standing on that thin cable. The cast was okay even though I think you should take real French actors to play French people. Nothing against Joseph Gordon-Levitt or any other fake frenchies but as a Belgian speaking French it sometimes bugged me that they are clearly not French. Even if they speak correct French you still can hear it's not their native language and that's a bummer. Because I could think of dozens of good French actors that could fufill this role and than it would all have sounded much better. Nevertheless the movie is good, very interesting to watch, and with actually a lot of suspense considiring the incredible stunt.

I can still remember watching this 2 years ago. I purchased IMAX 3D tickets for me and my friend, bcoz i saw the advice from IMDB. Then...I remember walking out of the theater with shaking legs and cold palms! My friend showed me her sweaty palms. During the show, my feet curled up, and i believed my balls shrink! This is the best experience i ever got from watching a movie! Movie makers should make more of these, so to discourage netizens from just downloading it. When bluray became available, i purchased the 3D versions. I tried to relive the moment, however the vertigo experience just wasn't there. The best money i have spent on movie tickets.