dir. James Marsh
feat. Phlippe Petit
Now, I don't like to gush. It's not really my style, or so I'd like to believe. But I border on the, "if you see just one film this year, make it Man on Wire," kind of ramble here. What seems like a small tale of a man's death-defying, insane high wire walk between the Twin Towers makes for a life-affirming film about living as though each day was one's last. Petit is a wonder, both then and now, as he hops around the studio like an elf bursting with energy, still uncontainable after all these years.
Marsh does a wonderful job toying with documentary conventions, handling the planning and execution of the job like heist reenactment, weaving in his sizable cast of characters and their quirks and ultimately letting the act and Petit speak for themselves. He also bravely and wisely avoids any direct reference to the tragedy that befell the city and the towers, fully aware that no mention is necessary, and in fact greater resonance is achieved through such silence.
Who would guess that the feel good film of the year would also be one of the best?
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