Over a decade after it debuted in theaters, Robert Zemeckis’ The Walk now has a 4K release. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it tells the fascinating true story of high-wire artist Philippe Petit, who was previously covered in the 2008 documentary Man on Wire. The new ultra-high-definition release looks great, giving this underrated Zemeckis movie the treatment it deserves.
“Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man — Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) — has ever walked 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. Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis uses advanced technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. The Walk is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center,” says the official description.
Featuring a stellar performance by Gordon-Levitt, who trained extensively with the man he’s portraying, The Walk is one of Zemeckis’ best later-career movies. Zemeckis’ experimental camerawork shines, as the actual wire-walking scenes look incredible and are utterly captivating. However, it’s definitely a film that peaks in its back half, as the actual walk across the World Trade Center towers is the most thrilling part, so some patience is needed to get to the stellar payoff.
The Walk 4K release is a great transfer. Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR, the film has much better shadow detail than the prior Blu-ray. The audio is unchanged, as it features a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix. Overall, it’s a great way to experience the film’s jaw-dropping climax and is visually impressive.
The Walk 4K includes many familiar bonus features, plus two new ones. Returning are seven deleted scenes and a trio of featurettes totaling nearly 30 minutes, which take a look at Gordon-Levitt’s training with Petit, the supporting cast, and how the film was made. New to this release is a four-and-a-half-minute featurette “High Wire Act,” which looks at the film’s special effects and its use of digital composition, plus the film’s theatrical trailer (which you can view above).
The Walk 4K Review: Final Verdict
The Walk 4K is a great way to own the underrated movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. One of Zemeckis’ strongest late-period works, it features a fantastic final act and some incredible moments. Definitely check this one out if you haven’t.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for its The Walk 4K review.
