A new teaser trailer for The Walk has dropped. The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Castaway) and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as high-wire stuntman Philippe Petit, who performed atop a wire between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. Petit was a daredevil accustomed to wild stunts, but his wire walking between the Twin Towers was terrifying to behold. At least, that’s what this teaser reveals. Let’s jump right on this trailer and discuss afterwards.
WARNING: Do not watch if you are at all afraid of heights.
Terrifying, isn’t it? The “view” almost takes one’s breath away in nervous excitement. Although there’s no way possible for JGL to be atop the towers, this is still scary. Even knowing that this stunt is mostly CGI doesn’t take away the clip’s impact. Joe’s hair and makeup are almost as scary. He doesn’t look anything like the real-life Petit, and magenta-tinged hair with wonky makeup doesn’t do Joe any favors.
Still, he’s acting his booty off in this teaser. This clip shows him toeing the very edge of an I-beam that sits 110 stories above the ground. Petit reportedly performed for 45 full minutes on wires between the two towers. This was a pre-planned show that Petit orchestrated with his friends. The city declined to prosecute him — they let him perform in the park for children instead.
What do you think of this trailer? Even though all the architecture we see is CGI, it still feels a little exploitative of the Twin Towers. If the film is done correctly, those concerns should quickly disappear and leave a spectacular IMAX show. Oh yeah, this film will show almost exclusively in the 3-D and IMAX formats.
FYI: Petit’s story was previously told in 2008’s Man on a Wire documentary. This story should be more of an adventure, which focuses on the “heist” Petit must wage in order to get to the top of the towers unnoticed. Mostly, this film should provide plenty of eye candy. It looks interesting, but JGL’s hair still FREAKs me out.
Photos courtesy of Sony, JGL on Instagram & WENN
This would be awesome to watch on IMAX, I think I’d give it a go
That’s what I was thinking as well!
I love JGL. Brings me back to 3rd Rock from the Sun
I would be cringing the entire time watching that movie. lol
Just fyi, the link took me to an error page. This link should work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Petit
The Man on a Wire documentary is a fantastic film. JGL has a tough act to follow.
Please see “Man on Wire” if you’re able to cope with the whole, you know, terrifying heights thing. It’s a truly spectacular doco. One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had at a cinema.
Loved Man on a Wire and its subject material. Love JGL. Definitely will watch despite the horrible hairstyles.
All I think about is the jumpers on 9/11. Interesting that all the shots are the camera shooting upward. My first thought was nostalgia for the buildings. Still too hard though.
That occurred to me to on the shot looking face down at 1.20
I don’t think it’s exploitative since this is a film based on what really happened, and what really happened was that he walked between the Twin Towers. Now, had this been a completely fictional story, I’d feel uncomfortable with that.
I don’t like heights, but I’m tempted to see it in IMAX 3D…it looks like it would be amazing in the format.
That teaser made my anxiety shoot through the roof and I’m not especially afraid of heights. It looks like a really good movie – done really well. Except that awful hair piece.
Man on a Wire was great but I am PUMPED for this movie. Definitely going to see it in Imax.
Why didn’t I heed the warning??!! I am terrified of heights, and I was almost curled into the fetal position at my desk by the end of the trailer.
I think it’s a celebration of the monuments as much as an exploitation. Why let a bunch of terrorist ************ get in the way of America telling great stories about itself?
JGL’s hair isn’t freaking me out, it’s his colored contacts.
Loved the documentary about this same subject, as well as the children’s book about it (The Man Who Walked Between the Towers). Not sure I could watch something like this in 3D, though. This 2-minute 2D trailer made my hands and armpits sweat!
I don’t think it is exploitative. But it’s a bit difficult to see that view again. Kinda wonderful…but difficult.
I used to work for an accounting firm that had floors 96-101 in the North Tower…and seeing the view of the city from that aspect again…
I am probably personalizing too much.
So, is it only me, or does anyone else JGL is looking a lot like Keanu Reeves in this trailer with his new hair?