Remember when the word “documentary” would send you running from the theater in search of a mindless sequel or action flick?
Love him or hate him, Michael Moore helped open the door for the modern documentary. They may too often stray from the truth, but as a whole today’s documentaries are far more engaging that what once hit theaters.
The new “Man on Wire” is a perfect example. The documentary, opening in select cities today, recalls the high-wire magic of Philippe Petit, a French acrobat who walked across the World Trade Center in 1974 on a slim metal wire.
My Washington Times review describes the film’s many perks, including Petit himself. He’s still alive, still well and he makes for a fabulous teller of his own tales.
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I'm an award-winning journalist and film critic with more than a decade of experience in newspapers, magazines and the Web. I'm a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association and the Denver Film Critics Society.
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Petit made an appearance at Newport Film Festival. He is an engaging speaker and has an amazing enthusiasm for the experience of life. He conducted an animated Q&A, interesting man.
Wish I could have seen him, Linda. He’s a real character!