Man on wire, james marshs documentary on the stranger than fiction attempt of philippe petit to cross the world trade center on a high wire, is a compelling, sometimes riveting piece of work. Film summary man on wire is the story of french tightrope walker philippe petit who, on august 7, 1974, walked across a wire strung up between the twin towers of new yorks world trade center. Man on wire which was set in 1947 directed by james marsh about a french high wire artist philippe petit who is fascinated by new yorks trade centre where he has strung a six metre tight rope between the twin tires and walked across it without any fear. On august 7, 1974, a young frenchman named philippe petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the world trade centers twin towers in new york. A heist movie and a biography movie and also, i suppose, a documentary, man on wire is a thrilling account of philippe petits 1974 highwire walk from one of the twin towers to the other. Man on wire is about the vanquishing of the towers by bravery and joy, not by terrorism. Philippe was a brave, enthusiastic and persistent highwire artist. Barry greenhouse, petits accomplice, says it during the film, he sort of draws you into his world. A look at tightrope walker philippe petits daring, but illegal, highwire routine performed between new york citys world trade centers twin towers in 1974, what some consider, the artistic crime of the century.
Instead, man on wire mainly focuses on the logistics of the stunt so intensely that the details of shooting a rope across the chasm and hiding out from security guards eventually lose their sense of wonder, and become as mundane as listening to an exjock describe how he once caught the winning pass in the state championship. Man on wire s cinematic tension that in the wire philippe petit balanced on as he walked between the twin towers in the historymaking high wire stunt shown in this compelling documentary. Walking on air between the towers the new york times. They would seem to suspend probability in the same way that warner bros. The film is interspersed with scenes of phillippe petit joseph gordonlevitt talking directly to the audience, narrating his life story and the events that led up to his highwire stunt, or as he calls it le coup. Its hard not to fall under a form of hypnosis when you watch philippes petits stunts graced by the beautiful compositions of erik satie. What a surprise, then, that james marshs man on wire turns out to be a highly entertaining, deeply moving film that also has the added benefit of. The documentary uses a combination of archive footage, interviews and dramatic recreations to show the development of his ambition. May 05, 2012 man on wire chronicles philippe petits wirewalk between the twin towers of the world trade center in august of 1974. It depicts the planning and execution of the historic 1974 twin tower tightrope walk. Jul 24, 2008 with a tightly woven narrative, james marshs superb documentary studies philippe petits highwire walk between the twin towers. He is the subject of the awardwinning documentary film man on wire. James marshs man on wire filmmaker magazine summer 2008.
Its more like a genre film than a documentary, marsh contends. Short synopsis on august 7th 1974, a young frenchman named philippe petit stepped out. The film chronicles philippe petit s 1974 highwire walk between the twin towers of new yorks world trade center. Recounting the simple story of a complicated character, this scales giddy emotional heights, revealing a. What a surprise, then, that james marshs man on wire turns out to be a highly entertaining, deeply moving film that also has the added benefit of adding positive memories of the buildings that. Man on wires james marsh among just three film makers to repay lottery funding in full since 2006, according to recent report published. In this film, denzel washington portrays john creasy, a despondent, alcoholic former special activities. Director james marsh mixes archival footage, blackandwhite reenactments and talkinghead interviews to not only reveal the amazing details of the feat itself, but something of the. He also streetjuggles, lectures, and practices closeup magic. Man on wire on august 7th, 1974, a young frenchman named philippe petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the new york world trade centers twin towers. With philippe petit, jean francois heckel, jeanlouis blondeau, annie allix. Man on wire tells the amazing true story of philippe petits 1974 highwire walk between the twin towers of new yorks world trade centre.
Man on wire explores tightrope walker philippe petits daring, but illegal, high wire routine performed between the twin towers of new york citys world trade center in what some consider the artistic crime of the century. Man on wire official movie site starring philippe petit. Philippe petit, the main character of the documentary film man on wire, directed by james marsh, is a great example of such a sucker. After watching the film, audiences might well agree with him. With a tightly woven narrative, james marshs superb documentary studies philippe petits highwire walk between the twin towers. Man on wire press notes 3 logline man on wire is the dramatic retelling of philippe petits daring, and illegal, scheme to walk the highwire between new yorks twin towers the artistic crime of the 20th century.
In 1974, philippe petit shocked new york with his world trade centre highwire act. And yes, many elements of a reallife heist were present in the way petit carried out his audacious plot. Lauteur du crime artistique du siecle intrigue des les premieres minutes par letroite frontiere entre ce qui. Man on wires cinematic tension that in the wire philippe petit balanced on as he walked between the twin towers in the historymaking high wire stunt shown in this compelling documentary. The subject for man on wire has been billed as the art crime of the century in telling the story of wire walker philippe petit, who traversed the twin towers of new yorks world trade centre in 1974, filmmaker james marsh does the subject justice and then some by producing one of the documentaries of the decade. Eschewing a complete focus on talking heads and vintage clips in exchange for a touch of whimsical dramatization, the film revels in dreams. Man on wire brings petits extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of all. Constructed like a classic heist film and utilizing interviews, blowbyblow recreation and reenactments as well as archival footage even including super 8 footage from petits personal camera, man on wire transcends the. Documentary category at the prestigious sundance film festival. The film shows the towers growing, huge steel beams being lifted, the puzzle being put together. James marshs doc about artist phililppe petits artful caper brings you every ounce of suspense that can be wrung from a man on a suspended wire.
Man on wire is consciously structured as a heist film, adapting the original tone of petits book and unfolding of his criminal artistic act. The film s showstopper, of course, is the earlymorning funambulist coup petit will always be remembered for, and the film s grippingly paced buildup to that gorgeously nimble and transcendent moment is part of the reason man on wire, which also won an audience award at full frame, has emerged as a surprise hit this season. Director james marsh mixes archival footage, blackandwhite reenactments and talkinghead interviews to not only reveal the amazing details of the feat. Parents need to know that man on wire is a 2008 documentary about a french tightrope walker who performed a highwire act of epic proportions in 1974. The film follows his high wire act that was considered to be too daring and dangerous for him at the height he attempted. A film guide that looks at man on wire 2008, an adrenalinefuelled documentary following philipe petit who, in 1974, walked along a tightrope between new yorks twin towers without permission from the authorities. What is the definition of a heist movie, and why is man on wire likened to hitchcocks film, vertigo. On august 7, 1974, philippe petit and a small band of associates rigged a tightrope cable between the twin towers of the stillunderconstruction world trade center. This documentary recounts the daredevil theatrics of philippe petit, a french acrobat who walked a highwire. Man on wire 2008 a look at tightrope walker philippe petits daring, but illegal, high wire routine performed between new york citys world trade centers twin towers in 1974, what some consider, the artistic crime of the century. Jul 25, 2008 accordingly, man on wire is constructed like a heist movie, in the manner of rififi or the revived oceans eleven franchise. The tragic connotations of new yorks world trade center are spirited away in director james marshs the stunning recreation doc wisconsin death trip man on wire, an incredible tale of french wire walker philippe petit, who commandeered the twin towers as the stage for an illegal caper of creative expression a daring performance of highwire artistry that included eight. Theres a scene that is a timelapse reenactment of a sexual encounter that philippe petit had with a female fan after he was freed from jail that. Man on wire is a film depicting the events of philippe petit who is a highwire actor that attempts a very daring routine.
It is based on petits book, to reach the clouds, released in paperback with the title man on wire. James marshs documentary man on wire offers a meticulously detailed look back at the event. A few months later, it took home the oscar for best. Critic david edelstein says the film is often aweinducing.
This documentary incorporates petits footage to show the numerous extraordinary challenges he faced in completing the artistic crime of the. Man on wire, directed by james marsh wisconsin death trip, has access to all of petits film, video and photographs of the assault on the towers. In mexico city, a former cia operative swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect. When man on wire was first released, many critics described it as a heist movie. Man on fire is a 2004 action thriller film directed by tony scott from a screenplay by brian helgeland, and based on the 1980 novel of the same name by a. Theres a scene that is a timelapse reenactment of a sexual encounter that philippe petit had with a female fan after he was freed from jail that includes. Watch man on wire 2008 movie trailer instantly, no need to login. Man on wire is a documentary about phillipe petit, who famously performed on a high wire between the twin towers then the tallest structure in the world in the 1970s. Accordingly, man on wire is constructed like a heist movie, in the manner of rififi or the revived oceans eleven franchise.
Man on wires james marsh among just three filmmakers to repay lottery funding in full since 2006, according to recent report published. Philippe petit is the worlds most famous highwire performer, making more than eighty highwire walks around the world. In 2008, james marshs man on wire took the festival circuit by storm winning the special jury award and audience award at the full frame documentary film festival and then capturing the jury prize and audience award in the world cinema. Man on wire is a 2008 britishamerican biographical documentary film directed by james marsh. Jeanlouis blondeau alex gibney exposes the haunting details of the usas torture and interrogation practices. Jul 31, 2008 in 1974, philippe petit shocked new york with his world trade centre highwire act. This guide is useful for exploring topics including film studies and psychology in. With denzel washington, christopher walken, dakota fanning, radha mitchell.
Aug 08, 2008 man on wire, the delightful documentary about french tightrope walker philippe petits incroyable earlymorning trip between the world trade center towers in 1974, is an interesting film to. An impossible but beautiful dream that came to life on the most improbable of stagesabove the clouds between the world trade centers twin towers, directorscreenwriter james marshs man on wire see the trailer here chronicles wirewalker philippe petits famed 1974 conquest of the worlds tallest buildings via an unprecedented performance. Man on wire is a suspenseful and consuming documentary. Man on wire is a documentary by james marsh released in 2008. Man on wire on august 7th, 1974, a young frenchman named philippe petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the new york world trade. Man on wire is a documentary about phillipe petit, who famously performed on a highwire between the twin towers then the tallest structure in the world in the 1970s. A look at tightrope walker philippe petits daring, but illegal, highwire routine performed between new york citys world trade centers twin towers in 1974, what some consider, the artistic. After dancing for nearly an hour on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally. The films showstopper, of course, is the earlymorning funambulist coup petit will always be remembered for, and the films grippingly paced buildup to that gorgeously nimble and transcendent moment is part of the reason man on wire, which also won an audience award at full frame, has emerged as a surprise hit this season. In this film, denzel washington portrays john creasy, a despondent, alcoholic former special activities division operativeu. Parents need to know that man on wire is a 2008 documentary about a french tightrope walker who performed a high wire act of epic proportions in 1974. The night before, hed broken into one of the buildings, and with friends and accomplices, rigged a wire from tower to tower. After dancing for nearly an hour on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released. What the film is finally about is that of a courageous man who, against all logic, walks up and down on a wire, high up in the sky, sitting and relaxing inbetween, almost dancing, like a fred astaire of the skies, for more than 45 minutes, challenging man, nature and the whole universe, making you feel that you can do anynthing you want as.
710 653 1108 1201 966 1134 186 842 1193 1572 1192 998 1046 1080 1240 1184 969 1215 1568 1218 591 1431 970 1059 1670 410 1239 1104 254 1257 986 988 1201 1034 733 1562 1638 554 160 134 19 375 790 1330 137 798 601