Man on Wire

James Marsh's fascinating, exquisitely-made documentary focuses on Philippe Petit, a tightrope-walker extraordinaire who—with a little help from his friends—successfully (if illegally) strolled between the World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974 between construction was completed. Despite the fact that Petit's feat is historically on record, Man on Wire still builds considerable suspense in its reconstruction of how the stunt—performed 1,300-plus feet above ground level—was accomplished, presenting a compelling story that also boasts humor and charm. Marsh interweaves archival TV news reports and excerpts from footage that Petit and his cohorts filmed (as they planned and rehearsed the escapade) with recent interviews featuring Petit and his helpers, as well as dramatic recreations of the crew's journey to the top of the buildings as they resorted to extreme measures to avoid being apprehended by security guards. Marsh is fortunate that the obsessive Petit is such a charming interviewee with a fluent memory (his childhood daredevil inclinations and later public exhibits are covered in detail). An excellent documentary profile, Man on Wire is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include footage of Philippe Petit's 1973 “Sydney Harbor Bridge Crossing” (20 min.), an interview with Petit (13 min.), Michael Sporn's 10-minute animated short “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers,” narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent extras package—Sporn's short won ALA's Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video—for one of 2008's best documentaries.] (F. Swietek)