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Man on Wire

2008

James Marsh

Documentary, Self: Philippe Petit

7.4

11,883

Documentary On August 7th 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world’s tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released. Following six and a half years of dreaming of the towers, Petit spent eight months in New York City planning the execution of ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Roger Ebert rogerebert.com	"[It] is constructed like a first-rate thriller (...) 'Man on Wire' is about the vanquishing of the towers by bravery and joy, not by terrorism.(…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Robert Koehler Variety	"One of the most wildly entertaining docs of recent years."	POS
United States	A. O. Scott The New York Times	"Walking on air between the towers. (...) [A] thorough, understated and altogether enthralling documentary. (...) [A] lovely, touching film"	POS
United States	Ann Hornaday The Washington Post	"'Man on Wire' tells a gripping, improbably affecting story but also a deeply cathartic one, as a place of loss and grief is transformed, briefly, into a place of transcendence and lyricism."	POS
United States	J.R. Jones Chicago Reader	"In archival photos Petit seems to float between the towers, a tiny black figure against a vivid blue sky; the images are all the more poignant for the unstated fact that Petit is still around when the buildings aren't."	POS
United States	Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter	"A highly entertaining, deeply moving film (...) Marsh presents the story in an undeniably uplifting, inspirational manner"	POS
United Kingdom	Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"James Marsh's documentary about this sublime piece of audacity does full justice to Petit's vision (...) Petit is a rare, exotic beast, and a wonderful one (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United Kingdom	William Thomas Empire	"It’s hard not to succumb to [Petit's] enthusiasm, courage and unremitting dedication to what he argues is a true artform (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS

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