Review of Man on Wire (2008) by Julius C — 20 Jul 2010

On a simple August summer morning in 1974 a man on a highwire stretched between the two towers of the World Trade Center did more for humanity than any President or politician in my lifetime could possibly do accumatively in their careers: that man was Philippe Petit. The film-maker James Marsh does a fine job crafting a film that not only does not foul up this marvelous feat, but makes us savor its beauty even that much more.

Philippe Petit was not alone in accomplishing this marvelous act. He and his closest friends formed the base of a team that without, this gift to humanity would never of happened. Jean Francois Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Annie Allix, and the unexpected blessing of Barry Greenhouse made this mouth-dropping masterpiece possible. With others they set out not to make a spectacle like so many dare-devils of our generation (i.e. Evil Knievil anyone?), but merely to accomplish the impossible WITHOUT inviting the press pack and media wolves of the day. Let people flock to their deed in its own merit, not be invited at the attempt of a spectacle. Nobility does exist still in mankind.

Why? Such a trivial question! Our culture and generation demands such an answer, Barbara Walters makes her living off the despicable question itself. We don't need to know if you must know. Seeing that man more than 1000 feet above the ground on a tight-wire because of his skill and his colleagues efforts (and what magnificent efforts they were! They are all nearly as inspiring as the feat itself), it is all an image burned into the page of the annals of mankind. It brings boyish giddiness out of Petit, it brings tears of beauty from Jean Francois, it captures in photo the mouth dropping and penetrating stares of intensity from the street from Annie and Barry. It provokes the response of Jean-Louis of breaking the law but not in a wicked or mean way. Curse the Gods!!! I wish I had been there in person. This is mankinds spirit at its finest. Thank you James Marsh for making it this good to watch! And most of all, thank you - you fine people, Philippe/Annie/Jean-Louis/Jean Francois for making it exist to begin with... thank you.