Man On Wire

[Joe Rogaine]

Anybody seen this yet it just came out on DVD? Part of it really is just like a heist film, I read somewhere that its the top ranked film on Rotten Tomatoes ever with 100%. Definitely my favorite documentary of the year.

[Martin]

Watched it last week. Loved it.

[jbissell]

Watched it last week. Loved it.

The whole sequence with Philippe on the wire is probably the best thing I saw all year.

[Denim Gremlin]

I watched it a few days ago.

it was really incredible.

[ShawnFromUtah]

I saw it a few weeks ago at our local "art theater." I was the only person there, and I found it moving, exciting, and simultaneously full of melancholy and exuberance. The heist element really worked! It was amazing how the WTC's absence was only really mentioned once during the whole film, but nonetheless added a layer of emotional complexity to the story as it unfolded.

[jbissell]

It was amazing how the WTC's absence was only really mentioned once during the whole film, but nonetheless added a layer of emotional complexity to the story as it unfolded.

The fact that 9/11 isn't mentioned a single time is really amazing.  9 out of 10 directors would have thrown something about it in there for the easy emotional hook.  I heard an interview with the director somewhere and he made a point of saying that everyone knows what happened so there was really no reason for him to wedge it into the story and I really appreciate that restraint.

[ShawnFromUtah]

Definitely, the only time it even came close was when Phillipe said that doing the walk would never happen again, and that was very subtle and it colored the rest of the film for me. An amazing work.

[samir]

I wrote some stuff.

http://areyougenehackman.blogspot.com/2008/11/there-is-no-why.html

[dave from knoxville]

It just showed up yesterday via Netflix. It will sit unopened on top of the entertainment center, then efk will send it back because she wants to see Poseidon so badly.

[emdasher]

For whatever reason, I was a little underwhelmed by Man on Wire, though I admit that it was very finely made.

Speaking of documentaries, has anyone seen Surfwise (surfwisefilm.com)? I just learned that the director went to the same suffocatingly small liberal arts college that I did.

[Jouster]

Speaking of documentaries, has anyone seen Surfwise (surfwisefilm.com)? I just learned that the director went to the same suffocatingly small liberal arts college that I did.

I saw it and enjoyed it.  It wasn't really masterfully made or anything, honestly, but that whole family was so compelling that it overcame any shortcomings it had.

[Martin]

I agree with Jouster. (I was also quite upset with the patriarch of the movie.)

[SJK]

For whatever reason, I was a little underwhelmed by Man on Wire, though I admit that it was very finely made.

Speaking of documentaries, has anyone seen Surfwise (surfwisefilm.com)? I just learned that the director went to the same suffocatingly small liberal arts college that I did.

Yes, I saw Surfwise and thought it was good. Ultimately I was feeling bad for the kids as they all grew older, not having much in the way of privacy...not having a "normal" home. However, the overall experience, I think is amazing. Their lives were anything but conventional. Like Martin said, the dad was a bit tough to take. I was on his side when the movie began, then the results of his decisions became realized...it was a different story.

I really wanted to see Man on Wire, the previews looked great. I missed it in my small hometown theater, hopefully will be able to rent it soon.

[snogrog]

I could not stop recommending Man On Wire to people after I saw it.

They all kept asking me, "That movie with Denzel Washington?"

But yes, definitely in my top 10 movies this year.

[Joe Rogaine]

I dont think ive ever heard the word beautiful used more in a film.