The Walk

The scenes on the wire are incredible, and the highlight of the film is truly the transition between the towers of the World Trade Center. At times, I felt dizzy, and I haven't even seen the movie in IMAX. However, just as there are amazing moments in terms of special effects, there are also horrors, such as the terrible accents of American actors and the predictability of the story, which is essentially a boring plot that only wins because of how unwavering human will is and what it can accomplish. (21/12/2015)

In Rush, it doesn't really matter which character you sympathise with, because you understand the attitudes, opinions and motivations of both, they just take different paths. With Man on a Rope, you sympathise with no one, or rather you don't understand the motivations of the main or secondary characters (comparissons are warranted given the strong will of the protagonists to prove "something" at any cost). Thus, the viewer cannot get into them and finds them completely flat and uninteresting. With the film's concept and cheap means of expression (for today's times), Robert Zemeckis is stuck somewhere 20 years back, only he didn't understand that times are moving inexorably forward and there have been plenty of attempts like this, though in a less visually sophisticated way. So much untapped acting potential (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley), and so many unnecessarily obvious screenwriting crutches and underdevelopment – the biggest failure of A-list Hollywood this year. Forrest Gump was heartfelt, this may be just about heartfelt for the Yanks, but for the normally minded viewer it's just a showcase for effects masters. Otherwise it's a load of bullshit, unnecessary tears and pathos. (10/10/2015)

A stunning digifest with a beating heart that only Robert Zemeckis could have given it. A celebration of enthusiasm, determination and courage. A tribute to the Twin Towers. Lovely French charm. After a long time, Alan Silvestri’s soundtrack soothes the ear. A nice role for Gordon-Levitt. (07/10/2015)

The atmosphere of the film was similar to the one in the film Hugo by the equally acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. In fact, the whole movie was extremely nice for me to watch, even though I knew it wasn’t quite par excellence. On the other hand, I think Robert Zemeckis squeezed the absolute maximum out of that story. Basically, we all know how it will turn out, but I still couldn’t shake off the tension that was thickening inside me towards the end. An absolutely perfect Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who obviously aced both French Parisian slang and walking on a rope, to amaze us all with a great acting performance. But he still didn’t manage to beat Ben Kingsley, who, evidently according to Phillip Petit’s own suggestion, played the Czech emigrant Rudolf and could give away his charisma to the rest of the acting staff. The more the pity it is that he had so few scenes where he could show off his talent. What can we do, the film was just about a slightly special character in the history of rope climbing, and the character could not have earned a better film than this one. And I’m quite glad that Joseph as Phillip Petit didn’t skimp on arrogance. A normal person would probably never be able to do this... (07/10/2015)

It's like I went back in time fifteen years. Robert Zemeckis tells the extraordinary story of an ordinary dreamer at his usual unpretentious pace, leading the main character to a breathtaking catharsis in the final moments. And yet it doesn't reach the quality of the similar Cast Away and Contact, mainly because this is exactly what I expect from him, and therefore the surprising or even seat-raising moment is missing. On the other hand, The Walk referenced in the movie's title is arresting, and shows in full force what could be sensed from the beginning: that Philippe Petit is not at all petite as artists go, but more with the heart of Le Petit Prince, far above us in his head and desires – in the heights that remain forbidden to mere mortals like us. (08/10/2015)