The Walk (2015)

In 1974, high-wire artist Philippe Petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis (screenplay), Christopher Browne (screenplay)

Stars:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlotte Le Bon, Guillaume Baillargeon

3 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Philippe Petit
Guillaume Baillargeon	...	Outdoor Café Man
Émilie Leclerc	...	Outdoor Café Woman (as Emilie Leclerc)
Mark Trafford	...	American Tourist
Inka Malovic	...	Woman in Chalk Circle
Lucas Ramacière	...	Boy in Chalk Circle
Martin Lefebvre	...	Gendarme
Philippe Bertrand	...	Gendarme
Laurence Deschênes	...	Young Girl with Candy
Patricia Tulasne	...	Dental Office Receptionist
Jean-Robert Bourdage	...	Dental Patient
Sylvie Lemay	...	Dental Patient
Sasha Dominique	...	Dental Patient
Soleyman Pierini	...	Boy Petit
Jade Kindar-Martin	...	Circus High Wire Performer

Storyline

Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man - Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) - has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. Guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petit and his gang overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis, the director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to the Future, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry, The Walk is true big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. The film, a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80, unlike anything audiences have seen before, is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, ...

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Plot Keywords:

tightrope walker | new york city | 1970s | skyscraper | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

A true story.

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements involving perilous situations, and for some nudity, language, brief drug references and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Czech

Release Date:

9 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Walk the Clouds

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,560,299, 4 October 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,137,502, 8 November 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), TriStar Productions, ImageMovers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Gordon-Levitt had to wear blue contacts for the role of Philippe Petit.

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Goofs

American calendars begin on a Sunday; so American viewers might get the impression that the August 6, 1974 shown on the calendar was a Monday. However, the calendar shown is French, which correctly indicates that August 6, 1974 was a Tuesday ("Mardi").

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Quotes

[first lines]
Philippe Petit: "Why?" That is the question people ask me most. Pourquoi? Why? For what? Why do you walk on the wire? Why do you tempt fate? Why do you risk death. But, I don't think of it this way. I never even say this word, death. La mort. Yes of okay, I said it once, or maybe three times, just now... But watch, I *will* not say it again. Instead, I use the opposite word. Life. For me, to walk on the wire, this is life. C'est la vie.
Philippe Petit: [now standing in the torch of the Statue of Liberty] So, ...

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Connections

References Back to the Future (1985)

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Soundtracks

Toby Dammit
Written by Nino Rota
Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Courtesy of Silva Screen Music America

User Reviews

The best 3D experience ever!

The Walk is a true story about high-wire artist, Philippe Petit(Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Ever since he was a boy, Philippe has always been fascinated by the art of tightrope walking. After mastering the art of tightrope walking, Philippe will now attempt to achieve the impossible. With the help of a small crew, Philippe will pull off a coup, as he calls it, & use his high-wire to walk the massive distance between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. This is Philippe Petit's ultimate dream.

The Walk is a masterpiece. It is an extremely realistic & immersive theater experience. Director Robert Zemeckis has done a wonderful job in recreating the actual events of Petit's life. The last 40 minutes of the film, is worth the ticket price alone. The Walk is my all time favorite 3D movie. Right from the first scene, till the last scene, the 3D provides both immense depth & many eye-popping moments. The cinematography is wonderful. Both Paris & New York City in the 1970s, have been portrayed beautifully. When Petit takes that climactic walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center the 3D definitely adds to the thrill of the experience. If you have a fear of heights or even otherwise, you will be on the edge of your seat as Philippe Petit embarks on one of the most dangerous feats ever attempted, in the history of mankind. You will be hoping against hope that Philippe Petit successfully completes his life changing walk. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is outstanding as Philippe Petit. The fact that Gordon-Levitt learned the art of tightrope walking & speaks in an authentic French accent is commendable. Charlotte Le Bon is great as Annie. Ben Kingsley is superb as Papa Rudy. Clement Sibony is brilliant as Jean-Louis. Cesar Domboy is amazing as Jeff/Jean-Francois. Steve Valentine is good as Barry Greenhouse. James Badge Dale is awesome as Jean-Pierre/J.P. Ben Schwartz & Benedict Samuel are impressive as Albert & David respectively. The Walk is a must watch. If you're not a movie buff but, you want to watch one movie in the theater this year, make it The Walk.