Film Review: THE WALK

Phillipe sets out on his famous 140-foot walk.

Unless you live in a Third World country, which you probably don't since you are reading this which means you have a digital device and some kind of power source, and are not busy fleeing a brutal dictator or escaping the clutches of ISIS, you would surely agree that ordinary life here in America is often mundane. This would explain things like pizza with bacon crust and the rise of Donald Trump. So, what to do? For one little Frenchman, walking on a wire strung between two opposite points is his antidote to crushing boredom. Seeing this movie about how he does it just might be yours.

Director Robert Zemeckis, the magical maker of Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Polar Express, Romancing the Stone, and Back to the Future, has done it again: He grabs your brain and messes with it for a couple of hours, and when he gives it back it is somehow changed. In his latest, The Walk, a fictionalized version of a true occurrence that made world headlines, he offers a rare opportunity to experience what it's like to straddle a thin cable strung between the Twin Towers, 1,362 feet above the streets of New York City.

Philippe Petit, a Parisian sprite of a man who spent his early life as a street performer, juggler, and eventually freelance wire-walker, had a burning desire to walk between the towers, then nearing completion in 1974. He set about assembling a team of helpers to get the job done. Since the planned caper (called "the coup") was most assuredly illegal, suddenly it's like we're in on a bank heist and rooting for the bad guys. We see it all come together, privy to months of intricate logistical planning and the solving of technical requirements. By the time the big day rolls around we're on the edge of our seats. And even though we know the coup was a success and that our little hero did not plummet 110 stories to his death, still we hold our breath and wonder: Will he make it? The movie is that good.

It's also funny and charming, with endearing performances by all of the actors, none of whom I recognized except for Ben Kingsley who has a small part in which he shines, as always. Throughout it all the glittering musical score enhances the stunning and often perplexing visuals: Just how did they recreate the towers so perfectly? It's simply a great film, and leaves you with two thoughts: First, now what? Your old life simply will not do. And second, gee I miss those Twin Towers. They sure were beautiful.