A highly entertaining and extremely accessible film.
Comment
10/18/08
Man On Wire (2008)
100
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:141
Fresh:141
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8.4/10
Consensus: James Marsh's doc about artist Phililppe Petit's artful caper brings you every ounce of suspense that can be wrung from a man on a (suspended) wire.
Theatrical Release:01-08-2008
Synopsis: James Marsh's dazzling, invigorating documentary MAN ON WIRE tells the story of a truly inspiring figure. In the early 1970s, a fiery young Frenchman named Philippe Petit wanted to shake up the... [More]
Director: James Marsh
Reviews for Man On Wire
Cleverly assembled like a heist thriller, this film documents the 1974 wire-walking stunt between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Not only does it have a remarkable resonance seven years after 9/11, but it's a cracking good story.
08/01/08
Cleverly assembled like a heist thriller, this film documents the 1974 wire-walking stunt between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Not only does it have a remarkable resonance seven years after 9/11, but it's a cracking good story.
08/01/08
Marsh presents Petit as a kind of acrobatic Werner Herzog, talented, eccentric and perhaps slightly crazy.
08/01/08
James Marsh’s film is brilliantly achieved and assembled.
08/01/08
The astonishing tale, told like a well-paced heist movie, is illustrated by film footage and breathtaking photographs taken by the group.
08/01/08
Gripping stuff, for sure, but you may fall asleep waiting for that big walk, while the juicy stuff – a fall-out between Petit and his co-conspirators – is glossed over at the end.
08/01/08
Marsh’s film is an achievement in itself, beautifully constructed and carried off; and that’s only fitting when his subject epitomises the soul-lifting power of that perpetual human hunger to do the impossible.
08/01/08
Marsh ably captures the irresistible story of a visionary and a dreamer, a man who was defined by this one act. If there's one gripe, it's a shame there's no film footage of Petit conquering the towers.
08/01/08
It's an incredible story, and in Man on Wire, Marsh has made a documentary that's worthy of his walk.
08/01/08
I've watched this film four times and I still can't believe what he did or what I'm seeing. Each viewing intensifies the galvanising joy and the heartbreakingly unrepeatable nature of his walk.
08/01/08
Top CriticWhat Marsh shows us is Petit's childlike innocence and almost transcendental faith: faith in himself, faith in his leadership abilities, faith that the escapade would be a success, and faith that he would not fall.
08/01/08
Top CriticThe attacks of 9/11 are never mentioned, and rightly so – this is a film about the life of the towers, not the death. But their inevitable destruction gives the movie a poignant weight, and reminds us of a time when they weren’t morbid geopolitical symbol
08/01/08
Top CriticA quietly inspirational true-life tale of a larger-than-life oddball told with measure and restraint.
07/31/08
Top CriticA generous, visionary gesture supplanting the communal memory of the site’s unspeakable horrors with an image of human achievement that’s head-spinning, heart-leaping in its absurd purity.
07/31/08
Top CriticMike Martin - Man On Wire is an amazingly emotional journey to the heart of one man's constant battle with his mortality.
07/31/08
Recounting the simple story of a complicated character, this scales giddy emotional heights, revealing a portrait of a man teetering on the brink, in more ways than one...
07/31/08
Top CriticBrilliantly directed, hugely entertaining documentary that tells a genuinely stunning story and paints a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary man.
07/18/08
Not only does it have a remarkable resonance seven years after 9/11, but it's a cracking good story
07/02/08
Click to read the article
05/07/09
Latest News for Man On Wire
January 08, 2009:
Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest achievements in 2008 filmmaking. A list of nominees follows below, with winners in bold: More...
December 10, 2008:
Milk Takes NY Film Critics' Top Honors 
"Milk" was the big winner at this year's New York Film Critics Circle Awards, taking home Best Picture, as well as Best Actor for Sean Penn and Best Supporting Actor for Josh... More...
December 10, 2008:
L.A. Film Critics Name WALL-E Best of '08
The votes are in, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association has spoken: "WALL-E" is the movie of the year, Sean Penn's performance in "Milk" was the year's best, and Danny... More...
December 08, 2008:
RT on DVD: The Dark Knight Is Here!
Welcome to The Dark Knight DVD week at Rotten Tomatoes! Warner Bros.' dark, masterful sequel arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday as one of the most anticipated home video... More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds