Jump to content

The Walk (2015 film)

From Alfawiki
TriStar Pictures
IndustryFilm distribution
Headquarters
United States
ProductsFilm distribution

The Walk is a 2015 American biographical drama film helmed by Robert Zemeckis, who collaborated with Christopher Browne on the screenplay. The narrative centers on French high-wire artist Philippe Petit and his daring 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers. The cast is led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt portraying Petit, supported by Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, and James Badge Dale.

The film made its debut at the New York Film Festival and was distributed in the United States by TriStar Pictures on September 30, 2015, initially offered in IMAX 3D. This was followed by releases in standard 2D and 3D formats on October 9. Critics praised Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal, Zemeckis’s direction, and the film’s visual effects, particularly the wire walking scenes; however, it did not achieve strong box office results. Dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks, this movie also introduced the 2015 version of the TriStar Pictures logo.

Plot

In 1973 Paris, street performer Philippe Petit suffers a broken tooth and while waiting at the dentist’s office, he notices a photograph of the Twin Towers, sparking his ambition to perform a high-wire act between them. After being expelled from his home by his unsupportive father, Philippe returns to circus life to hone his tightrope skills. He catches the attention of Papa Rudy, who agrees to mentor him in knot tying and rope rigging for a fee.

Philippe forms a relationship with Annie, a fellow performer who encourages his vision and offers her music school as a practice venue. They meet Jean-Louis, a photographer who becomes Philippe’s second collaborator. Jean-Louis introduces Jeff, another participant who struggles with acrophobia. Together, they devise a plan to use a bow and arrow to string the cable between the Towers. Following an anxiety-driven fall during a performance, Philippe redeems himself by successfully walking between the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, earning worldwide recognition despite being detained.

Philippe and Annie travel to the United States and set August 6, 1974 as the date for the stunt. Philippe secretly surveys the site but injures his foot in the process. The team expands to include Barry Greenhouse, an insurance salesman working in the Towers; J.P., a French-speaking electronics salesman; Albert, an amateur photographer; and David. They finalize their strategy to ensure Philippe is on the wire before construction workers arrive at 7:00 a.m.

On the night of the event, despite encountering delays and security obstacles, they successfully string the cables. Philippe begins his crossing, experiencing an intense sense of concentration and tranquility. He traverses between the Towers amid cheering spectators and completes multiple crossings—kneeling and lying down on the wire—until police threaten removal via helicopter. After six crossings within 45 minutes and some theatrical gestures, he complies and is taken into custody but receives acclaim for his courage.

Following his release shortly thereafter, Philippe remains in New York while Annie returns to Paris to continue her musical pursuits. The building manager modifies Philippe’s access pass expiry date to "forever," granting him unlimited entry to the Towers’ observation decks.

Cast

Production

On January 23, 2014, it was announced that Robert Zemeckis would helm a film depicting Philippe Petit's daring 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers. Inspired by the children's book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, Zemeckis selected Joseph Gordon-Levitt to portray Petit. Initially unaware of the narrative, Zemeckis recognized its strong cinematic appeal: a determined and passionate protagonist engaged in a suspenseful, outlaw-style adventure. By February 2014, Gordon-Levitt was officially cast in the lead role. The cast expanded in April with the addition of Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Kingsley, and James Badge Dale, followed by Steve Valentine and Ben Schwartz joining in May. The film was slated for release on October 2, 2015. Principal photography occurred from May 26 through August 6, 2014, primarily in Montreal.

Although Gordon-Levitt had no prior experience with high-wire walking, he trained directly under Petit and achieved proficiency by the eighth day, continuing to refine his skills throughout filming. The film’s climactic sequences were captured on a soundstage featuring detailed reconstructions of the upper levels of the Twin Towers, with a wire suspended approximately above a green void. To gain deeper insight into the event, Gordon-Levitt practiced walking between the World Trade Center memorial pools at the original site and toured the former observatory. Additionally, he acquired fluency in French with a Parisian accent, aided by Le Bon and other French-speaking cast members.

Release

The film debuted at the New York Film Festival on September 26, 2015. It received an early IMAX release on September 30, 2015, before opening widely in theaters on October 9, 2015, following a one-week postponement from its initial October 2 date. Notably, it was the inaugural feature to showcase the 2015 TriStar Pictures logo.

Home media

The Walk became available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D formats on January 5, 2016.

Box office

With a production budget of $35 million, The Walk earned $10.1 million domestically in North America and $51 million internationally, culminating in a global total of $61.2 million.

During its limited IMAX engagement starting September 30, 2015, it generated $1.6 million and placed eleventh at the box office. Upon wide release, it garnered $3.7 million during its opening weekend, ranking seventh.

Critical response

Reviewers lauded Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal, Zemeckis’s direction, and especially the visual effects showcasing the wire walk sequence. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 83% based on 277 critiques with an average score of 7.1/10. According to Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 from 41 reviews, reflecting "generally favorable" reception. Audience polling via CinemaScore awarded it an "A−" grade, while 72% of respondents on PostTrak rated it as excellent or good.

John Lasser from IGN gave it an 8.6/10 rating, emphasizing Gordon-Levitt’s charismatic performance and the film’s suspenseful heist-like narrative structure. Peter Debruge of Variety described it as a compelling human-interest tale with remarkable craftsmanship. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter remarked that despite a slow start, the film’s conclusion delivers satisfying payoff.

Michael Phillips at the Chicago Tribune awarded two and a half out of four stars, highlighting the impressive climactic visuals presented in IMAX 3-D. Similarly, Ann Hornaday from The Washington Post gave two and a half stars while praising its immersive qualities. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers rated it three out of four stars, noting that the movie gains momentum after an initially gradual beginning.

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times assigned three stars to the film, commending both its cinematography and Gordon-Levitt’s expressive performance during the wire walk scenes. James Berardinelli from ReelViews also gave three out of four stars, describing it as largely successful despite pacing issues early on. Brian Truitt of USA Today provided two and a half stars, acknowledging Hollywood’s achievement in crafting breathtaking sequences that evoke the sensation of being aloft above the cityscape.

Awards and Honors

Award Category Honoree Outcome
Critics' Choice Awards Best Visual Effects The Walk Template:Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Visual Effects The Walk Template:Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Visual Effects The Walk Template:Won
Satellite Awards Best Visual Effects Kevin Baillie, Jim Gibbs, Viktor Muller, Sébastien Moreau Template:Won
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Best Visual Effects The Walk Template:Nominated
Visual Effects Society Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Kevin Baillie, Camille Cellucci, Viktor Muller, Sebastien Moreau Template:Nominated
Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature Jim Gibbs, Brian Flora, Laurent Tallefer, Pavel Kolar Template:Nominated
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project Shawn Hull, Suzanne Cipolletti, Laurent Taillefer, Dariusz Wolski Template:Nominated

Related Works

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Walk_(2015_film)&oldid=17777"