This magnificent documentary is about Philippe Petit, the
charming, crazy French person who, in August of 1974, strung a
cable between the two towers of the World Trade Center and walked and
knelt and lay supine on his tightrope for 45 breathtaking
minutes. Told through new interviews (Petit: “These twin towers are
trotting in my head!“), archival footage, and elegant
black-and-white reenactments, Man on Wire is 80 minutes of
white-knuckled suspense followed by a surprisingly emotional
climax. (See movie times, www.thestranger.com, for
details.)

Annie Wagner is The Stranger's former film editor. She was born and raised in Capitol Hill, but has since lived in such far-flung locales as Phoenix, AZ, Charlottesville, VA, and Wedgwood. After graduating...