Man on Wire

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Cast & Crew

Annie Allix
Herself

Jean François Heckel
Himself

James Marsh
Director

Simon Chinn
Producer

Nick Fraser
Executive Producer

Andrea Meditch
Executive Producer

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Critic Reviews for Man on Wire

Audience Reviews for Man on Wire

• Jan 22, 2016

  Based on the memoir of Philippe Petit, Man on Wire tells the extraordinary story of one of the most daring artistic coups of the 20th century. In this documentary Petit and his team recount their 1974 exploit of rigging a high-wire between the World Trade Center towers (still under construction at the time) in order for Petit to give a wire walking performance. In addition to the interviews, original footage and re-enactments are used to help complete the story; showing how the team planned and trained for the event (infiltrating construction crews, building scale models, etc.). However, the filmmakers don't explore the larger context; the impact that the event had. Still, Man on Wire is a remarkably compelling look at a feat of incredible ingenuity and audacity.
  Dann M Super Reviewer
• Sep 08, 2014

  A magnificent feat told by its own participants. Emotionally engaging and exhilarating.
  Pierluigi P Super Reviewer
• Jul 31, 2013

  An unnecessarily prolonged documentary, forcefully expanded twice its required length in order to tell a story much more interesting than its cinematic execution. The emotional fillers do not add anything to the story. I appreciate the balance maintained between seriousness and the comedic moments: anecdotes are anecdotes. The commentary regarding how an intrepid pursuit of a life dream that does not fit into the liberalism structure of our economy and the conservative laws around the world is cataloged as "guilty" under the charges of "trespassing" and "disorder behavior" is amusing. We saw the inspirational message of never giving up, of not allowing ourselves to live restricted to rules, etc., coming from miles away. But how can I buy it? A fearless man is recommending me to evolve an intrepid mentality and break borders. He should have also made people remember that such process should not necessarily lead to illegal actions, life-risking activities or simply achievements that surpass average standards, because no profession or ocupation is better than the other, or more admirable. Wrongfully, the entire story is called at the very end a "love story", because thanks to that typical fanatism that people have for worshipping deeds like that of Philippe, he scored and got a girl, resulting also in sequences of unnecessary graphic sexuality, maybe to remind us of the naughty French spirit? It is indeed a love story, but to a dream come true. The Academy choosing this average documentary over Herzog's work is actually more fearless than Philippe's deed! I rest my case with that statement. 58/100
  Edgar C Super Reviewer
• May 28, 2013

  A stuntman/performer dreams up a stunt impossible to ignore in the modern day world full of been there, done that. True enough, I wondered what's the big deal, "a guy on a tightrope", blah, blah, blah, yada, yada. Fueling these thoughts, the man himself, Monsieur Petit, seems a shameless attention hog, one whom it inadvertently pleases one to ignor. But then, the stunt itself ... jaw droppingly, utterly un-friggen-believable! See it.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer

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