Man on Wire (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Man on Wire', a documentary, directed by James Marsh, takes a look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's stunning, daring, but illegal high-wire act performed btwn. NYC's World Trade Center's towers on 8/7/1974. Some considered the event "the artistic crime of the century". Some thought Petit was a madman. But most were inspired. This 'doc' is fascinating on several levels. For one, it's a time capsule: combining talking heads interviews, actual reel footage, & dramatizations that show a NYC that doesn't even consider the word 'terrorism'. And two, we marvel at the sanity/insanity of Philippe Petit; and the gall he had to plan & execute this feat. More suspenseful than your usual thriller fare, 'Man on Wire' is one of the most entertaining documentaries I've ever seen.
Philippe Petit first became obsessed with the towers when he saw an artist's designs of the un-completed buildings as a teenager. A sort of trickster, Peitit also loved walking on wires/cables. Leading up to the WTC feat, he'd practice his daredevilry at the Sydney Australia Harbour Bridge, & the Notre Dame Cathedral (always stopping traffic; giving the cops quite the headache). A huge amount of planning & preparation was necessary to accomplish the feat. The act would be illegal. Strategem was key. Avoiding being caught was of utmost importance. And dealing with potential rain and/or wind was also a concern. What if it were misty & no one would see his attempt? What if a hurricane blew in and all was for naught? SO many things could have gone wrong ...
How would he assemble a team crazy enough to go along with him, be able to avoid WTC workers, security guards, get to the roof, haul all the cables (and other tools), stretch the 450 lb. cable across over 200 ft. from one swaying tower to the other, & walk 1,350 ft. up in the air? Many talking heads (his accomplices) add perspectives/intricacies to the story, but the main narration comes from Petit, himself; a lively, completely engrossing individual (who's very presence makes us believe how/why he would attempt such a feat). He was & is still a showman; some of the anecdotes he provides includes: hiding under a tarp for 3 hours til the security guards went away; that the most dangerous aspect of his adventure was being hand-cuffed by the cops afterwards & falling down a flight of stairs; taken for psychological evaluation, etc.). The most amusing anecdote he indulges is his making love with an anonymous woman who approached him after being released from police custody -- brilliant stories. And they're all told with a sort of lighthearted mischievousness behind them. He really is quite the devil.
There is no real footage of him crossing the suspended cable (though, he does so 8 times over the course of a 45 minute period); walking back & forth, laying down on it, kneeling on it, smiling & laughing at the cops who want to accost him. But there are many photos. The dramatizations of the event are wonderfully realized. And there is quite a bit of footage (for us to watch) of Petit preparing for the event (wire walking, mapping things out, conversing with his team & worrisome girlfriend, etc.). All the sights we see are unique, magnificent, & magical. But not only is the feat itself a wonder, but learning about Philippe Petit is intriguing. And seeing the WTC stand in all its early splendor is something to behold. Haunting.
Is Philippe Petit crazy? Abnormal? Or is he inspired ... brave? Determined beyond all belief, he shows that once you put your mind to something, anything is possible. I personally don't think he's quite as nutty as some may think. And I love his self-proclamation that he couldn't possibly think of a more beautiful, enriching way to die than if he were to have fallen from that wire some 34 yrs. ago. James Marsh is a meticulous director; using stellar editing & good music to highlight the interviews, historical footage, dramatizations, & still photographs to their maximum potential. And the structure of this film is interesting (scurrying around with events from Jan. to Aug. 1974 and back again). The method is meant to prevent 89 minutes of boredom, and to keep us on our toes throughout the entire process. The result? A full-blown thriller. One that entertains AND makes us ponder the death-defying act in ways we may not have thought previously.
Philippe Petit first became obsessed with the towers when he saw an artist's designs of the un-completed buildings as a teenager. A sort of trickster, Peitit also loved walking on wires/cables. Leading up to the WTC feat, he'd practice his daredevilry at the Sydney Australia Harbour Bridge, & the Notre Dame Cathedral (always stopping traffic; giving the cops quite the headache). A huge amount of planning & preparation was necessary to accomplish the feat. The act would be illegal. Strategem was key. Avoiding being caught was of utmost importance. And dealing with potential rain and/or wind was also a concern. What if it were misty & no one would see his attempt? What if a hurricane blew in and all was for naught? SO many things could have gone wrong ...
How would he assemble a team crazy enough to go along with him, be able to avoid WTC workers, security guards, get to the roof, haul all the cables (and other tools), stretch the 450 lb. cable across over 200 ft. from one swaying tower to the other, & walk 1,350 ft. up in the air? Many talking heads (his accomplices) add perspectives/intricacies to the story, but the main narration comes from Petit, himself; a lively, completely engrossing individual (who's very presence makes us believe how/why he would attempt such a feat). He was & is still a showman; some of the anecdotes he provides includes: hiding under a tarp for 3 hours til the security guards went away; that the most dangerous aspect of his adventure was being hand-cuffed by the cops afterwards & falling down a flight of stairs; taken for psychological evaluation, etc.). The most amusing anecdote he indulges is his making love with an anonymous woman who approached him after being released from police custody -- brilliant stories. And they're all told with a sort of lighthearted mischievousness behind them. He really is quite the devil.
There is no real footage of him crossing the suspended cable (though, he does so 8 times over the course of a 45 minute period); walking back & forth, laying down on it, kneeling on it, smiling & laughing at the cops who want to accost him. But there are many photos. The dramatizations of the event are wonderfully realized. And there is quite a bit of footage (for us to watch) of Petit preparing for the event (wire walking, mapping things out, conversing with his team & worrisome girlfriend, etc.). All the sights we see are unique, magnificent, & magical. But not only is the feat itself a wonder, but learning about Philippe Petit is intriguing. And seeing the WTC stand in all its early splendor is something to behold. Haunting.
Is Philippe Petit crazy? Abnormal? Or is he inspired ... brave? Determined beyond all belief, he shows that once you put your mind to something, anything is possible. I personally don't think he's quite as nutty as some may think. And I love his self-proclamation that he couldn't possibly think of a more beautiful, enriching way to die than if he were to have fallen from that wire some 34 yrs. ago. James Marsh is a meticulous director; using stellar editing & good music to highlight the interviews, historical footage, dramatizations, & still photographs to their maximum potential. And the structure of this film is interesting (scurrying around with events from Jan. to Aug. 1974 and back again). The method is meant to prevent 89 minutes of boredom, and to keep us on our toes throughout the entire process. The result? A full-blown thriller. One that entertains AND makes us ponder the death-defying act in ways we may not have thought previously.