Go see this movie!

Man on Wire, James Marsh, Director

I have a very dim recollection of the day in August of 1974 when I heard that a tight-rope walker had walked between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. I certainly don't remember, or didn't actually hear, the details of that amazing act. The movie Man on Wire tells the story, documentary-style, of Phillipe Petit, who, at age 24, pulled off the feat and amazed the world.

The film has gotten mostly rave reviews both by the critics and viewers who choose to publish their reviews on-line. Reading the viewer reviews (say that three times fast) on the New York Times Web site however, I did find a few grumps amongst the ravers. This was my response to those critical critics:

I'm amused by the reviewers (readers) who seem miffed at Mr. Petit's arrogance and self-aggrandizing behavior.

Let's see, Mr. Petit at age fourteen sees a drawing of what two yet-to-be-built towers will look like and immediately knows that he will walk between these buildings. He plans, or plots is more accurate, for six years to make his dream a reality. He manages to bring a number of people along for the ride by the sheer force of his passion, his daring, and, of course, his talent. He somehow manages to haul a ton of equipment past security guards and up 110 flights of stairs (I saw the film and I'm still not sure how he pulled it off). He strings a cable between the tallest buildings in the world. And, oh yes, he then spends 45 minutes "dancing" on that cable one quarter of a mile above the earth. Arrogant? Self-aggrandizing? Of course he is. What other type of person would dare such a stunt?

If all art (and I have no doubt that this man is an artist) were judged against the personality of the artist, well we wouldn't have much to hang up in museums. I think that Mr. Petit's comment about the American need to ask why he performed such an audacious act, "why, there is no why," is quite simply brilliant.

But I'll ask another "why." Why do we feel the need to deconstruct art? I find it rather inconceivable that people could witness this mad and unimaginably beautiful act and not simply be stunned by the beauty of it.

Art should speak to our collective humanity and then give us a glimpse of our perhaps unimagined potential. I say bravo to Mr. Petit and to Mr. Marsh for allowing us to witness an act of artistry in the truest sense of the word.