Highwire artist Philippe Petite was so certain of his abilities that he banned the word “death” from his vocabulary. It’s a philosophy echoed by director Robert Zemeckis in this whimsical, visually breathtaking effort, which charts Petite’s 1974 illegal wire walk across the unthinkable void between the World Trade Centre towers.
Though the Twin Towers are at The Walk’s epicentre, there’s not even a post-credit mention of 9/11 – and with good reason. Zemeckis’ film is a celebration where the Towers embody the possible; the great potential human beings have for dreaming, and for greatness.
Joseph Gordon Levitt brings mischief and ego to his portrayal of Petite, which, for all its flourishes, is actually a toned down version of Petite’s flamboyantly artistic persona. Zemeckis also tries to evoke a sense of wonder through his visuals, which initially show 1970s Paris in black and white with pops of colour, and allow the audience to enter the mental blueprints of Petite’s daring plans.
These gimmicks are fun, if frivolous, much like the film’s first act. Though we’re introduced to Petite, his love Annie (Charlotte Le Bon, underused) and his mentor, the mercurial Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), we’re given us little insight into Petite’s life or personality outside of tightrope walking. It’s the second act where the action picks up, with a caper-esque break-in to the Towers, and of course Petite’s dizzying walk.
Using stereoscopic 3D, Zemeckis plays with perspective throughout. One shot, from Petite’s POV, shows his feet delicately slide across the wire, while another looks up at him from the ground below. In the most unnerving sequence of all, Zemeckis positions the camera above Petite, with the terrifying drop beneath clearly visible. Zemeckis wants you to experience all 1,300 feet between the wire and the ground; the fear, the terror, the majesty.
Unfortunately, the director’s trademark sentimentality erases the nuance from the story, making The Walk more of a visual ride than a revelatory character study. But what a ride.