Because of getting used to work and it’s routine-based nature, whilst also allowing my body to get used to the travel and such, there hasn’t been much time for film-watching. I’ve made up for that as of late by watching a couple to get me back into the swing of things.
First up was Man On Wire, the documentary that told the story of how Phillippe Petit planned his unbelievably daring and extraordinary attempt to tight-rope walk across the World Trade Centre in 1974. It is a remarkable story that defines ‘stranger than fiction’ and tells how, whilst everyone else around him was completely fed up with him and his own plans and his own craziness, Petit defied almost every probable outcome (just so you know, every ‘probably outcome’ revolved around certain death). The leading man is an excellent, enigmatic and highly entertaining storyteller and that alone is something that makes this documentary worth watching. A joy and well deserved of its Oscar in 2009.
The second film was Batman Begins. I’ve watched every Batman film apart from this one and, considering that I watched The Dark Knight two years ago, that is quite embarrassing. If I were to compare the two, the acting may not be as strong as The Dark Knight but the story is its heart and it is one that is told in an expert and thrilling way. If this was the first Batman film you saw then you’d be very satisfied. In terms of the overall scheme of Batman films, it’s certainly one of the better ones. Nothing will ever come close to becoming as soul-crushingly bad as Batman & Robin. Nothing. Ever. Mr. Freeze, as played by Governer Schwarzeneger, was as threatening as a nightclub bouncer – without any of the fear that a bouncer should put into drunken clubbers.
