Review: MAN ON WIRE

MAN ON WIRE is an exhilarating look into ones man's dream to do the near impossible, and how he was able to accomplish it masterfully.

In 1974, on a clear and slightly breezy early New York morning, Philippe Petit did the unthinkable, tightrope walking between the roofs of the newly erected World Trade Center Towers. Risking legal ramifications for himself and his accomplices, and more importantly his own life, Phillippe spent nearly a year practicing and preparing for the ultimate tight ropers dream, to perform at the top of the world. Phillipe walked back and fourth between these steel giants 8 times for nearly 45 minutes, his eyes fixed on the thin steel line below his feet, and the dream that he was about to accomplish, all the while the threat of death looming millimeters below every step. Though for Philiipe, death only exhilarated him more, fueling his ambition to carry out what could be seen as one of the most dangerous and most illegal artistic endeavors of our time. However, Phillipe had prepared all his life for this moment, this dream, and nothing was going to shake his confidence in his abilities, and the confidence he had in his friends that were at his side. At the end of Phillipe's 45 minute stint among the clouds, he finally relented, and returned to the roof of one of the towers where police were standing ready to take him into custody. However, the threat and final outcome of jail for Phillipe was a mere annoyance compared to not risking the opportunity of accomplishing his goals, seeing his dreams made into realities, and seeing the world from a totally new perspective.

MAN ON WIRE is itself an exhilarating piece of film that gives the audience a detailed look into just how Philippe first got the idea, prepared, and finally carried out an extremely detailed operation which included how he and his team managed to gain access to the buildings and the freight elevators, getting their equipment to the roof, escaping the threat of being seen by security guards, assembling the tightrope across both towers in the darkness of morning, and how Phillipe finally faced the ultimate challenge and dream of walking between the two tallest buildings in the world at the time. But in the end, what was the cost? Yes, Phillipe accomplished his goal, he defied all opposition, and he succeeded, or did he? The film hints by the end that Phillipe's costly endeavor, selfish ambitions, and obsessive tenancies while elevating his own need and prowess to excel in his craft, may very well have been the driving force that dimensioned key relationships in his life including his girlfriend and his best friend. Throughout the film Phillipe can be seen shunning peoples notion of "why" he did what he did. To him, he did it simply because the opportunity presented itself, and it was ripe for the taking.

The film's weakness seems to lie not its ability to create memorable characters, set up tension, or in telling a clever story, but in is ability to offer up a clearer sense of resolve, a clearer sense of "why" this mission was so imperative, so vital for Phillipe, but it offers enough to point you in the right direction. Yet, the real question for Phillipe still remains one of the heart. When those 45 euphoric minutes atop the world came to end, were they truly worth the loss of companionship, friendship, and love?

Recommendation: Use caution do to a scene of sexuality.

Grade: B+