Man on Wire
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Movie Reviews of Man on Wire
Movie Review: An extraordinarily powerful documentary
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, there is someone crazier than the building-climbing "Spiderman," and his name is Phillippe Petit, who will forever be known for his death-defying tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. He didn't simply walk; over the course of eight crossings, he knelt, lay, saluted, and all but danced 1368 feet above the teeming crowd below for some forty-five minutes. Man on Wire (the title comes from the police description of the incident) is the story of what has been called the artistic crime of the century, from the birth of the dream inside a dentist's office in 1968 to the completion of the amazing feat six years later. While there are plenty of interviews with Petit's friends and accomplices, this is truly Petit's story. Somewhere around 60 years of age now, Petit emotes a flamboyant energy and passion that demands your undivided attention, making it easier to see how he was able to recruit the team members necessary to pull off such a suicidal, highly illegal and seemingly impossible "le coup." When this film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Petit balanced the Oscar on his chin for the audience, in true showman fashion.
Obviously, you don't just climb to the top of one of the Twin Towers, throw a cable across to the sister tower, and walk across. The planning took six years. During that time, Petit and several of his accomplices spent months basically casing the site, figuring out how to evade different levels of security, sneaking up to the roof on several occasions, taking photographs and constructing scale models to see how to set up the rigging for the walk, and trying to create during training the sort of unstable conditions Petit would face during his feat. At one point, he passed himself off as a writer for a French architecture magazine in order to interview workers who were still completing the construction of the buildings. While the Frenchman had made death-defying tight rope walks at Notre Dame Cathedral and Sydney Harbor Bridge, he had never faced the dangers that this walk entailed.
There's rather a sad side to Petit's story, as well - namely, the breakdown of some of Petit's personal relationships in the wake of his great triumph. One gets the sense that, even as she watched him make this magical tightrope walk, Petit's extremely supportive girlfriend sensed that she was losing him - both personally and spiritually. Petit now belonged to the world that reveled in his daring accomplishment, and the man gleefully recounts how he made passionate love to one of his brand new fans as soon as he was released from police custody. It is the story of Petit's relationships with the men and women who devoted themselves to helping him realize his dangerous dream that makes this documentary such an emotional viewing experience. Petit is revealed herein with all of his spots, which makes this a very human story. The charisma of the man is also something to behold, and listening to him speak about his art and dreams is nothing short of spellbinding. I could never have turned my eyes to the sky to watch this man taunt death between the Twin Towers, but nothing could have taken my eyes off of every second of this unique and powerful documentary.
Movie Review: Extreme Zen
Summary: 5 Stars
On the surface, Man on Wire may appear to be a straightforward documentary about an eccentric high wire artist who is either incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid. But if you look closer, you might discover one of the best suspense thrillers/heist movies of 2008, although no guns are drawn and nothing gets stolen. It is also one of the most romantic films I've seen this year, although it is not a traditional love story. Existential and even a tad surreal at times, it is ultimately a deeply profound treatise on following your bliss.
Late in the summer of 1974, a diminutive Frenchman named Philippe Petit made a splash (of the figurative kind, luckily) by treating unsuspecting NYC morning commuters to the sight of a lifetime: a man taking a casual morning stroll across a ¾" steel cable, stretched from rooftop to rooftop between the two towers of the then-unfinished World Trade Center, 1350 feet skyward. After traversing the 200 foot wide chasm with supernatural ease, he decided to turn around and have another go. And another. And another. All told, Petit made 8 round trips, with only one brief but memorable rest stop. He took a breather to lie on his back (mid-wire) and enjoy what had to have been the ultimate Moment of Zen ever experienced in the history of humankind, contemplating the sky and enjoying a little chit-chat with a seagull.
Now, a stunt like this doesn't just happen on a whim. There are a few logistical hurdles to consider beforehand. Like how do you transport 450 lbs of steel cable to the roof of one tower of the World Trade Center, and then safely tether it across to its twin? A clandestine operation of this magnitude requires meticulous planning, and at least a couple trustworthy co-conspirators. Sounds like the makings of a classic heist film, no?
All of this potential for a cracking good true-life tale was not lost on director James Marsh, who enlisted the still spry and charmingly elfin Petit, along with a few members of his "crew" to give a first-hand account of events leading up to what can perhaps best be described as a "performance art heist". Marsh also deserves kudos for his excellent choice of music; the accompaniment of Peter Green's sublime, haunting guitar instrumental "Albatross" to one of Petit's more balletic high wire walks is an unexpected treat, making for a truly transcendent cinematic moment.
Of course, the foremost question on anyone's mind would be "Why did he do it?" At the time, he enigmatically offered "When I see three oranges, I juggle; when I see two towers, I walk." Petit himself remains a bit elusive on the motivations for his stunts. The director doesn't really push the issue, which I think is a wise choice. When you watch the mesmerizing footage of Petit floating on the air between the towers of Notre Dame, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then ultimately the World Trade Center, you realize that it is simply an act of pure aesthetic grace, like a beautiful painting or an inspired melody. And you also suspect that he does it...because he can. That's impressive enough for me, because I can barely balance a checkbook, and when it comes to heights, I get a nosebleed from thick socks.
Movie Review: Everything a documentary should be
Summary: 5 Stars
James Marsh has created a documentary that pays homage to the early masters of the form and one that will stand on its own for generations to come.
It is the story of Phillipe Petit, a self-talk tightrope or wire walker, street performer, publicity hound and obsessive who captured the world's attention in 1976 when he, with the help of interesting band of confederates, walked a wire strung between the newly erected World Trade Center towers.
More than a thousand feet in the air, Petit walked the 200 feet or so between the towers on a quarter-inch thick wire eight times. On occasion he kneeled in salute. He lay down on the wire. He did this all with supreme ease, while onlookers gasped in surprise, shock, awe and fear.
James Marsh pulls together Petit himself, looking vastly older now than the cherubic youth who pulled off this stunt, his girlfriend of the time whom the years have not treated well and several other friends, acquaintances and confederates.
It is a marvelous story. Petit leaves no doubt that he is an obsessive - and watching his skills mature leaves one in awe of his incredibly singular talent. His girlfriend of so long ago lived in thrall to him, doing his ever bidding. She's quite the contrast - the young woman dressed in the style of the 60s and 70s compared to the much older woman of today, showing the ravages of age.
Petit's friends of long standing all attest to the combustibility of Petit and their own tempers.
The stories of the past are intertwined with the meticulous planning for the WTC escapade, which Marsh successfully imbues with the tension of a great bank heist film. The stories of creeping up to the top floor and then scurrying when a guard unexpectedly appears and leans on the tarp they are hiding under are wonderful.
Finally the great event. Footage from the day just leaves the viewer gasping. Mere mortals don't do things like this - walk on a thin wire more than a thousand feet above our heads, kneeling on the wire, laying on the wire.
A police officer, long forgotten to history, lives on in a news interview of the time, his hairstyle so 70s, so retro today, as he talks of the police reaction.
No one treated it as a great crime, though the police officers, angry about being taunted by Petit, did rough him up.
A judge "sentenced" Petit to a public performance for children. The WTC gave Petit a lifetime pass to the observation deck of the WTC.
Petit faded into semi-obscurity, teaching and performing in New York.
This film, however, assures that future generations will know and see the "man on wire", as the police complaint describes the event. Petit did something that no other human has done - and that no other human can ever do.
A marvelous film. A tribute to Petite, the "man on wire" and Marsh, a superb documentarian.
Jerry
Movie Review: Breathtaking documentary
Summary: 5 Stars
`Man on Wire' is a documentary about Phillipe Petit's shocking 1974 high wire walk between the Twin Towers. The movie starts with a short history of his previous high wire capers, which included spanning the towers of Notre Dame and the Sydney Harbour Bridge (thankfully well-documented by his crew) , and, briefly, Petit's telling of how his dream of crossing the Towers came about in a dentist's waiting room. Most of the movie, however, deals with the logistics of his most famous crossing, which included months of casing the Towers (where was the security?), lots of practice wire-walking with simulated high winds (his friends yanking and pulling on his practice wire), and, finally, the recruitment of a few Americans, who the French didn't trust, though they seemed to be critical to pulling the project off.
There was a point about 2/3 of the way through where the pace of the movie slowed somewhat, perhaps purposely done, when the team began to feel they would never pull it off. This was somewhat enhanced by the natural impatience I had knowing what would happen and wanting to get to it. But for the most part, Petit keeps the narrative moving ahead full-steam with his natural, animated gift for storytelling. Other participants, especially Petit's girlfriend and best friend at the time, build-up the emotional aspect of what was to happen. Still, when the main event finally happens to Satie's beautiful Gymnopedies No 3, the rest of the movie fades away and you are left with something so breathtaking you cannot remove your eyes from the film. The hair on the back of my neck stood up while I watched these scenes, both from on-coming vertigo (especially from scenes of him lying on the wire, or leaning on one knee) and his girlfriend's beautiful description of the event. There are pictures of him from the ground where he is a tiny speck to the on-lookers, and pictures of him from the roof where you can read his face: fully focused on his performance, or grinning at the approaching police. All of them are awesome in their own way, and remind us of the importance of perspective in art.
And that is exactly what this was: art. Some viewers will get that, others will see it as just a publicity stunt . Others still will miss the emotions, but still appreciate it for the fascinating act it was. Some reviewers have mentioned the sad aspects of the story. Good art, no matter how outwardly joyous, will have strains of melancholy. It seems sad that friendships went by the wayside after this, but what were they to do for an encore? What does one do when they achieve their life's dream just shy of their 25th birthday?
Movie Review: Moving documentary of an amazing event
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm still trying to digest the enormity of this amazing fete! Watching Petit from the ground, he looks little more than a speck. It's almost hard to believe that this actually happened.
This film gives us a lot---first the sheer spectacle of the event. That would be enough reason to watch it. But it does a lot more. I loved the early films of the young Petit and his friends romping in the green grass of the south of France as they prepared for the performance. The spirit of innocence and joy as they plan to do the impossible is really nice to see.
Then there is the inspiration that many may draw from the film--that nothing is impossible if you believe in your dream and are willing to work very hard to bring it into reality. The film does not stint on showing the exhausting preparative work that went into making this happen.
There's a real transcendent aspect to this, too. Petit says that death is very near when he's doing this. He says that if he should die on this attempt that it would be beautiful to go while doing what one is passionate about. He talks a lot about living on the edge, each day..and there is a lot of inspiration one can draw from that. The one moment that struck me the most in the whole film was after he overcame his initial fear on the crossing and a smile broke out on his face. As his companions said, they knew that he was home free then....he was in the zone...and his incredible antics on the wire at that time are truly mind boggling.
Then, there is the mystery aspect---the fact that the deal is illegal gives the story a bigger emotional charge than it would have anyway. It's really fun to see the figures huddled beneath the tarp while the guard smokes his cigarette a few feet away. A lot of folks will cheer the fact that these kids were able to pull it off.
Then there is the dimension of the relationships of his "team members" to Petit. He is obviously a charismatic guy whose passion for his dream enlisted blind faith in his friends. What is touching and also sad is the way the friendships, including that of his long time lover, ended after his great triumph. The film doesn't neglect this aspect of the story, although he doesn't hit us over the head with it either. As another reviewer said, it's important to see what such one-pointed ambition can cost in terms of one's overall humanity.
All in all, it's a very satisfying picture of one man's amazing experience---really worth watching.
One has to wonder how Petit reacted at the events of 9-11! Given his nature, he would have had to taken it very personally.