Users

Now Playing

FA Rankings

All Rankings
N
Top 1000 FA

Sections

TV Series

TOPs

Awards | Festivals

Information

Click here to copy URL

Man on Wire

7.4

11,772

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

flatrate

rent

buy

free

Pro reviews

Links

1 Related Movies

Related to:

The Walk

Original title: Man on Wire
Year: 2008
Running time: 94 min.
Country: United Kingdom
Director: James Marsh
Screenwriter: James Marsh
Music: Michael Nyman, J. Ralph
Cinematography: Igor Martinovic
Cast: Documentary, Self: Philippe Petit
Producer: Co-production United Kingdom-United States;
Magnolia Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: 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 the coup. Aided by a team of friends and accomplices, Petit was faced with numerous extraordinary challenges: he had to find a way to bypass the WTC’s security; smuggle the heavy steel cable and rigging equipment into the towers; pass the wire between the two rooftops; anchor the wire and tension it to withstand the winds and the swaying of the buildings. The rigging was done by night in complete secrecy. At 7:15 AM, Philippe took his first step on the high wire 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan… James Marsh’s documentary brings Petit’s extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as “the artistic crime of the century.”

Awards: 2008: Oscar Awards: Best Documentary

2008: BAFTA Awards: Best British Film. Nominated for Best Debut (Simon Chinn)

2008: Sundance: Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema - Documentary), Audience Award

2008: Toronto: Best Documentary

2008: National Board of Review: Best Documentary Of the Year

2008: Film Critics Circle of New York: Best Documentary

Show 8 more awards

2008: Los Angeles Film Critics Awards: Best Documentary

2008: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Documentary Feature

2008: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Best Documentary

2008: Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Documentary

2008: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Documentary

2008: British Independent Film Awards (BIFA): Best Documentary. 2 Nominations

2008: Producers Guild Awards (PGA): Best Documentary

2008: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Nominated for Best Director / Documentary

Critics' reviews

"[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)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"One of the most wildly entertaining docs of recent years."

Robert Koehler: Variety
"Walking on air between the towers. (...) [A] thorough, understated and altogether enthralling documentary. (...) [A] lovely, touching film"

A. O. Scott: The New York Times
"'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."

Ann Hornaday: The Washington Post
"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."

J.R. Jones: Chicago Reader
"A highly entertaining, deeply moving film (...) Marsh presents the story in an undeniably uplifting, inspirational manner"

Frank Scheck: The Hollywood Reporter
"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)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
"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)"

William Thomas: Empire

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

18 My Favorite Documentaries (226)
59 My Top 10 Movies from 2008 (69)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to info@filmaffinity.com

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org