The Most Exciting Movie of Summer 2008

That's right. It ain't "The Dark Knight," which so collapses under its own weight that it still mystifies me how many people actually loved it.

Nope, for my money and your money at the multiplex, "Man On Wire" offers as much action, intrigue, and excitement than any other film offered up by Hallow-wood this summer. And, except for one very small isolated segment, there is not one single special effect employed.

And people won't see it because it's a documentary and the general public will equivocate that with boredom.

Hardly.

Because this story is real. It happened. In modern times. Surprise, surprise. A real-time event can be interesting. When was the last time you saw somebody dressed in a black cape scooting around town on a souped-up motorcycle? Okay, the above question is not applicable if you live in or around West Hollywood. But, the point is that "Man On Wire" outshines any loud and noisy action movie that the major studios can conjure up. And it resonates even more because it really did happen.

"Man On Wire" tells the story of wirewalker/lunatic Philippe Petit who, two days before Nixon resigned the Presidency in 1974, walked on a tight rope that stretched between the roofs of the two World Trade Center buildings. Of course, as Petit had done in other spots around the world, this was not an organized event. Every time he pulls a stunt like this, he winds up spending a few nights in the local jail. But, he is in it for the exhileration. And, in the case of this movie, that passion and excitement is easily passed along to the audience.

The film is part interview, part archival footage, and part re-enactment. But, Petit and his team of cronies (you need more than a few people to get away with a prank like this) detail how they prepped the event, got the wire strung, ducked security guards, and ultimately did the deed. It becomes the ultimate heist and caper film. And you care more for the participants than you do in any other film dumped out by Hollywood this summer. You watch through photos and footage Petit walk across that wire. He did it not once, not twice, but eight different times. At one point, he lays on his back right across the wire. It is crazy and stupid and amazing. Of course, 34 years later, the challenge to death here is made even more poignant now. With those buildings gone. And the images we all share of bodies falling from almost equal heights.

The crowd I was with applauded wildly at the end. That says to me the movie worked. Big time. If your household budget is currently allowing for just one movie for the rest of the year, make it "Man On Wire."

Take that, Caped Crusader!

Dinner last night: Chicken tenders at the Daily Grill.