Man on Wire
It's a movie I saw with some friends in the theater. I didn't pick it and didn't know much about it, but the subject was about an intriguingevent I had never even heard about.
If you have read the synopsis or remember the event (you are older than me), then you know that a Frenchman named Philippe Petit along with some accomplices strung a wire across the top of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. And then this crazed man did a tight-rope walk / act across them for about 45 minutes. It was called "the artistic crime of the century"
The film follows the story from Petit's youth, his earlier stunts tight-rope walking high wires strung across Notre Dame in Paris, some bridge in Sydney, and the Superdome amongst others. The story is told through interviews, original film footage, and reenactments.
I was surprised to hear and read discussionsof the film subsequent to viewing it in which people found Petit to be unappealing because of his vanity and obsession often to the extent of placing extreme stress and danger on many of his friends and people around him. I wasn't surprised because I didn't agree. But I did see this devious charm that the man had. This fascination at his obvious talent and outrageous obsessions. It's not hard to see how people were roped in. And maybe I was being vein myself, but I thought most viewers would also be roped in and charmed as well. Maybe they were since the film has gone on to do so well. Or maybe the movie charmed them. I guess that's what really counts when making the final evaluation of the film.
One aspect of this film that is never overtly referenced (at least I sure don't remember any) but that is going to be inevitable in the thoughts of any viewer is the perspective of looking at these buildings we have lost after 9/11. Although it's never mentioned, it's impossible for this film to elicit the same mood on audiences as it would have in an alternate universe where the World Trade Center is still standing. But as this man in a way conquered these buildings decades ago. I think the movie gives some kind of hope that there will always be new challenges to conquer in the future.
Does that sound corny? I had some other thoughts in my head of ways to end this review, but I'm using a computer at an old folk's home where my girlfriend's grandfather is staying and she's telling me it's time to go. So I must say adieu.
Rating: 8/10