FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Walk
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Daniel Adams
Starring: Justin Chatwin, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

What It Is: It’s 1974 in Boston. Schools are being redistricted and rebused. Now the police must escort the Black children that are being rebused into a predominantly white school and vice versa. One policeman in particular Officer Bill Coughlin (Chatwin) has skin in the game. You see there are incoming Black children into his daughter’s school. He’s also been tasked with personal assuring that they get to school safely. Meanwhile, a demon from Bill’s past has come for his final revenge.

What We Think: The overall plot does a great job of moving itself along. Structurally it’s a simple job but Daniel Adams as he has before does an excellent job reigning it all in. Where I’m most impressed was taking the unwildly script and making something coherent. There’s a lot going on here and some of the bigger tones get lost. Justin Chatwin has never been my favorite actor but he’s doing some great work here. Piven and his whole angle build the drama necessary but I really feel like their out of place and moreso work as a powderkeg for some of the more volatile actions.

Our Grade: C+, Everything here works to an extent. It isn’t perfect and tends to meander and lose its focus. When it is sharp it’s razor so but the problems that persist are forgivable and the film overall in tonally fixed on what it wants to do. I think Adams as a director gets to do what he does and guide some great actors through rocky waters. Even though the subject matter is difficult and sadly still relevant it’s an enjoyable film. Check this one out for a stark look into just how short in the tooth America’s history of racism truly is.