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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

The only thing missing from James Marsh's Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire (2008) is actual footage of Frenchman Philippe Petit's gobsmacking 1974 tightrope walk between the recently built Twin Towers. In this caper-like version of events, Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis calls on his special-effects savvy to bring that perilous perambulation to nerve-jangling life. Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt captures the joie de vivre and charisma of the likeable Petit (fluent Franglais and all), and looks every inch the daredevil wire-walker. Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can looms large as a stylish influence, but Zemeckis can't emulate the deft blend of breezy comedy and effortless excitement of that 2002 movie, although the re-creation of Petit's guerilla high-wire "coup" (traversing 140ft of heavy steel cable at 1,350ft in the air) remains a genuinely sweat-inducing experience (especially in 3D IMAX). Unfortunately, the set-up to "the artistic crime of the century", in which the ebullient Petit gathers assorted accomplices under the auspices of a crotchety Czech mentor (Ben Kingsley), is too light an appetiser to match the spectacular climax. Zemeckis aims high but this time Hollywood artifice just can't trump Marsh's inspirational treatment.

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Credits

Cast

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Philippe PetitJoseph Gordon-Levitt
Papa RudyBen Kingsley
Annie AllixCharlotte Le Bon
Jean-Pierre / JPJames Badge Dale
Jean-LouisClément Sibony
Jeff / Jean-FrançoisCésar Domboy
DavidBenedict Samuel
AlbertBen Schwartz
Barry GreenhouseSteve Valentine
Officer GencoSergio Di Zio
GuyMark Camacho

Crew

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DirectorRobert Zemeckis

Details

Theatrical distributor
Sony
Released on
2015-10-02
Languages
English | Czech | French
Guidance
Swearing, brief nudity
Available on
DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
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