Sunday, December 07, 2008

Man On Wire


Very interesting documentary that looks and feels more like a heist film than a simple doc thanks to seamless recreations, old footage and a remarkable story of a man that had an obsession and against all odds he accomplished the most amazing and beautiful to watch acts.

In the most thrilling and entertaining way this James Marsh doc tells about tightrope walker Phillipe Petit and his obsession to walk from one New York City’s World Trade Center twin tower to the other and how everything started because a tooth ache and a visit to the dentist in his native France.

Starts as each of the two teams enters one tower and with flashbacks takes us to the colorful life of Petit as a self-taught wire walker to his first in the news crossing of the Notre Dame church in Paris, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia and his career dream and climax in the WTC.. But what really captures your attention are all the unbelievable details for the planning of the WTC crossing that is described as “the artistic crime of the century”.

As a film is truly remarkable because amazing editing that flawlessly integrates recreations with real footage and honestly you hardly know what’s recreation and what’s real footage. Then the music score is awesome and totally contributes to the outstanding storytelling that becomes thrilling and engaging.

The documentary has been accumulating accolades and honors allover the world including winning the Best British Documentary at th 2008 BIFA’s, Best Over 30 minutes Documentary at the 2008 Karlovy Vary fest, Best Documentary at the 2008 NBR Awards and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance fest where also won the Audience Award. The documentary is in the short list for the 2009 Academy Awards.

Absolutely a must be seen documentary for its breakthrough tech specs and the high entertaining values and I just regret that was too short, as I would have loved to see some of his other crossings like the Louisiana Superdome, Palais de Chaillot and definitively the Eiffel Tower!

Big Enjoy!!!

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