Man on Wire (2008) - Jack O'Brien

Man on Wire (2008) is is a British Noire Documentary that follows Philippe Petit's famous wire walk of the twin towers in 1974. The film was nominated for, and won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary. The film was directed by James Marsh and based on the book of the same name by Philippe Petit.

The film is at heart, a documentary, because of this, it is difficult to evaluate its themes. Any moral ambiguity the characters posses are real people, these are their real motivations and justifications for their actions. The real note here is that Philippe and his cohorts make no attempt to justify. They understand the illegality in their actions, but they explain that they pressed on in the name of art.

Petit's stunt was dangerous, and in a way, beautiful. The way it is presented throughout the course of the film lends the viewer to believe with impartiality that it was a work of art rather than a crime. The Noire presentation of the history, panning, and execution of the long-winded and long anticipated feat of wire walking the Twin Towers lends viewers to see this as a secret, beautiful thing, rather than what would be called in today's world an act of terrorism.

I don't think there is much else to say. I believe that Petit's act was beautiful. I think that the documentary frames it as such and does it well. Man on Wire is well deserving of its Academy Award and hopefully becomes a classic.