When you think documentary some words you may consider synonymous with the genre are probably boring, long, uninteresting, or educational; and although Man On Wire is certainly educational I can assure you it does not sacrifice entertainment or brevity to complete this goal. Its 1hr 34min duration is extremely brief by documentary standards and I would even go as far as saying this is a documentary that should've been longer. The film gives us a first hand account of one of the first events that would bring the World Trade Center (WTC) to global attention, done so through captivating and elaborative play-by-play.
There are many things that separate this documentary from ordinary ones and at the top of that list is its topic. This documentary might be worthy of becoming a central part of grade-school curricula as it is record of one of the most overlooked, yet significant events to occur at one of the most infamous locations in American history. The topic alone is something that is unheard of by many people so even if documentaries aren't your thing, the prospect of being exposed to new information is the first thing that would make you want to give this one a try. It is a breath of fresh air in comparison to documentaries of topics most people generally know about or simply don't care about. Secondly, Man On Wire is set apart by the commentary provided by the individuals involved with the WTC crossing. Of all the documentaries I've come across I certainly have to say this one has some of the most passionate individuals I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. It is amazing how Petit and his cohorts can still speak so descriptively of an event that occurred more than 40 years ago. You can still see the excitement in their faces as they speak on the topic so eloquently. There is a slight language barrier that is made up for with subtitles, but even without reading the subtitles the body language and facial expressions of the individuals speak for themselves. Unlike most educational documentaries there is no formality in Man On Wire. Of course you're learning about a significant event but its clear that you are being taught by real people with real emotions; not the unenthusiastic, monotone scholars that narrate typical documentaries. Lastly this film is set apart by its breath taking imagery. As a documentary there is nothing to really look forward to unless you can be brought into to the moment that is being documented. We are brought into Petit's life through a series of videos and photos up until the moment of his death defying walk. The images of his walk truly are the single best part of this film. As someone who lived the majority of my life post 9/11, these images really brought life to a building that is essentially a myth to my generation. I honestly did feel a false sense of nostalgia due to how close I had grown to the towers through the films duration.
Even though this film is one that I would highly recommend to just about anyone, I will admit it has one flaw. As a post 9/11 documentary about events that took place at the WTC, I must admit that there is a bit of an "elephant in the room" because the perpetrators of the walk, as well as the viewers know what the buildings fate would be less than 30 years later. 9/11 isn't even so much as referenced during the film, which I found a bit disappointing. It would've been interesting to hear these passionate speakers give their take on the fate of the building that gave them fame as a conclusion to the film. Instead we are given a look into Petit's intimate life following his WTC walk, a directorial decision that I don't believe adds much to the aesthetic of the film. However, I wont let this slight dissatisfaction alter my opinion too much, after all this is not a 9/11 documentary so it may have been a good decision to leave such a dark situation out of what is in all aspects a bright documentary. I will give this film a bias 4/5 stars. This is as high as I can possibly rate a docudrama in comparison to other genres, but Man On Wire is certainly a film that can hold its own against most big-name action blockbusters.
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