MovieChat Forums > The Walk (2015) Discussion > Great feat - dull story

Great feat - dull story

posted 9 years ago by MsJackieO
13 replies | jump to latest

His act of walking between the two towers was immense but for me, the film suffered in a number of areas and was a bit of a drag.

1) The voiceover and cuts to him at the Statue of Liberty tells us that he completes the walk safely and thus any tension the film tries to build (falling into the lake, his rope snapping, wobbling when walking the towers) is lost.

Yes, there was the chance he was dead a la American Beuaty but only a minute one.

2) The story of his life up to that point isn't interesting. Nor does anything grand happen to justify the 90 minute build up. Ultimately he walks a high wire - that's it!

3) He walks the wire between the towers once - hoorah! Then again, and again, and again - by which point the act is passe. You got the sens ehe could be up there all day to no ill effect.

Not a hater - I really wanted to like it - but I can see why it didn't register with audiences. The feat was amazing but the story wasn't and everybody involved should have passed on the project.

[–] logan-cale-106-422613 9 years ago

I agree with you on points one and two, especially one, but that fact that Philippe pushed his luck (or faith) by continuing and then kneeling and lying down on the wire is beyond spectacular. I believe his walk is as big as climbing mount Everest. If I was a studio executive I would have re-edited the film and removed the voice-over narrative parts, reduced or removed his horrible fake French accent, and would have liked to see how Cameron Monaghan of Shameless would have handled the role. For one, he would have looked much more like Philip.

And I was disappointed that there were no real images or video clips at the end of Philippe Petit. I don't understand why some films avoid this...

[–] wilson55666 8 years ago

Really dude? You have to spoil other movie to discuss this movie? I know American beauty is an old movie but not everyone has watched it.
You just ruined it for me.
*beep* you,you selfish prick !

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

It gives me pleasure that something was ruined for you because you are such a jerk. wonder when you planning to watch AB? hahahaha

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.

[–] wilson55666 8 years ago

I'm the jerk now? What did I ever do to anybody?
The only jerk we all know is this selfish motherfûcker who have to spoil other movies to discuss a movie that's not even in the same genre and takes pleasure from it.
Way to go idiot !

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

Yeah well the statute of limitations on spoilers expired. The movie is 17 years old!

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.

[–] wilson55666 8 years ago

Don't care about how long the movie has released. The problem here is you spoil it in another movie's board which didn't have any connection whatsoever. If you want to discuss American beauty spoiler,go to the movie's board or at least give people a warning so that people who haven't watch it won't continue reading but you choose to not do that which show how ignorant you really are.

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

People compare movies and TV shows all the time. If you're worried about spoilers of a seventeen-year-old movie you probably shouldn't be on IMDb

[–] wilson55666 8 years ago

Yes people do compare them all the time but respectful people put a spoiler warning and ignorant people like you don't. Here's what you probably don't understand or maybe you just don't care,there are always people who haven't watched it. Just because you have and the movie has been released in your country a long time ago don't give you the right to spoil it to those who haven't. The world doesn't revolve around you. There's a reason why there are spoiler tag in imdb in case you didn't know.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lordjames-1 8 years ago

Strange. Even having seen the documentary and knowing exactly how it all ends up, I thought every moment he was out there on his wire was one of the most tense moments in any film I have ever seen.

[–] knifeparty2004 8 years ago

Agree with the OP. I was stuck on a plane, had seen all the other films so I had to tough this one out. The flashbacks to his earlier life were so boring. Also felt Gordon-Levitt was miscast. They should have gone with a French actor. I really like Zemeckis as a director but this was such a dull affair.

[–] jname967 8 years ago

I agree essentially. The only redeeming thing was that it showed a man with an unusual dream who pulled it off with ingenuity and passion.

But after I finished watching the whole movie, I thought: that was utterly predictable (as a film). LOL.

[–] jpkrunch 8 years ago

2) The story of his life up to that point isn't interesting. Nor does anything grand happen to justify the 90 minute build up. Ultimately he walks a high wire - that's it!

I didn't make it!@ Turned it off in disgust! The wife and I were baffled at how anyone could put up with this nonsense. Weird tone, silly but not funny. Very dull. I think I will restart it, FF to the walk and just watch that.

I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.