[I Screened it on Netflix]: Man on Wire

Standing on the sidewalk in New York City, looking high up into the air, one of the last things you would probably expect to see is a man traversing a precarious wire strung between two buildings.  If you were downtown on August 7, 1974, then you might have seen just that. Philippe Petit, without any sort of safety device, crossed back and forth between the Twin Towers, much to the horror and delight of the spectators below.  Man on Wire shows the interesting story of how this plan was conceived and carried out.

I recognize that not everyone enjoys watching documentary films; however, I must insist that even if this is how you typically feel, you should still give Man on Wire a chance.
Released in 2008 and directed by James Marsh, Man on Wire starts in the middle of things, and opens with a very tense scene of making the final preparations for the incredible stunt.  Intercut between the scenes of preparation leading up to Petit's crossing of the World Trade Center towers are little pieces of back-story that show how he first became interested in his hobby.  We get to see him put on high wire acts all over the world, such as when he gets out of his car in Australia because there is a traffic jam, and he traverses the top parts of a bridge with all the cars waiting below.  The background is actually quite amusing and funny at times and adds to the overall story because we are able to begin to understand why someone would even think of attempting such an intense stunt.

Although "Man on Wire" is a documentary, it also has the feel of a classic heist film.  The main difference is that instead of stealing anything, Petit and his team break into the World Trade Center to string a wire across the top floors for Petit's amazing wire act.  Regardless, their actions not only lead to a death defying stunt but were highly illegal and involved breaking and entering.  We get to see all of the main elements of the heist, such the precise planning, design of schematics, and clever disguises both before and in action. Although the members of the team are not stealing anything, the stakes are still extremely high, and the suspense and tense situations that accompany many traditional heist films are present.  The climax of the film is vertigo inducing, and you feel compelled to hold your breath, so as not to blow him over, as you see Petit take his first steps over the abyss.   
It is probably because of its accessibility, entertaining nature, and clever heist-like structure that Man on Wire was so well received. 

In addition to the various shining reviews, it also won the Academy Award for "Best Documentary." And although you can take it for what you will, Man on Wire actually received a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (out of 142 reviews), and is only ranked behind Toy Story 2 on its list of the "Best of Rotten Tomatoes."  Log on to your Netflix account to find out if you agree.