Intouchables, The (2011) [Blu-ray]
Biography | Comedy | Drama

When Driss, an ex-con from the projects, is hired to take care of an eccentric French aristocrat named Philippe, his newfound job quickly becomes an unpredictable adventure. Speeding a Maserati through Paris, seducing women and paragliding over the Alps is just the beginning, as Driss turns the often humorous world of upper-class Parisian society upside-down. As this unlikely duo overcome adversity of every flavor in this true story, they also shatter their preconceptions of love, life and each other. Based on the #1 international best-selling book, "You Changed My Life."

Storyline: In Paris, the aristocratic and intellectual Philippe is a quadriplegic millionaire who is interviewing candidates for the position of his carer, with his red-haired secretary Magalie. Out of the blue, the rude African Driss cuts the line of candidates and brings a document from the Social Security and asks Phillipe to sign it to prove that he is seeking a job position so he can receive his unemployment benefit. Philippe challenges Driss, offering him a trial period of one month to gain experience helping him. Then Driss can decide whether he would like to stay with him or not. Driss accepts the challenge and moves to the mansion, changing the boring life of Phillipe and his employees. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman on March 2, 2013 -- Yogi Berra famously said, "it ain't over 'till it's over." The wonderfully human The Intouchables serves to remind audiences that Yogi was right, not just about baseball but about life. The story of a wealthy quadriplegic who rediscovers -- and in many ways discovers for the first time -- the joys of living through the companionship of someone completely outwardly dissimilar to himself is one of 2011's best films, a truly joyous picture about the bonds of friendship and the pleasures of the heart and soul that may be found in everyday things, that may be discovered with just a little nudge out of one's comfort zone and into the many delights the world has to offer. Directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano have created a masterpiece in which the story is the bond and the plot is life. It's a deeply satisfying blend of drama and comedy, the two seamlessly entwined and perfectly balanced against a backdrop of simple filmmaking that achieves what so many other films cannot, and that's a genuine look into the essence of true happiness independent of either one's physical state or place in life.

Philippe (François Cluzet) is a wealthy Frenchman who lives in a large house in front of which are several high-dollar automobiles. He's also the proud owner of his own jet airplane. Yet all his wealth cannot buy him true independence and mobility. Philippe is a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair and unable to move or feel anything below his head. He requires constant care from a staff of many, even to perform basic tasks such as getting into and out of bed, bathing, or letter writing. When it comes time to hire a new caregiver, he's unimpressed with any of the stiff candidates who bank only on their degrees and work experiences to impress. He and his assistant Magalie (Audrey Fleurot) finally come to Driss (Omar Sy), a interviewee who has arrived only to prove to the government that he's trying to find work so he may continue to receive his welfare. Unbeknownst to him, he impresses Philippe, who appreciates his style, his demeanor, and even his "flaws." Driss is hired on with no experience in caregiving but quickly grows into the position. Not only does he perform above expectations once he gets the hang of all the tasks required of him, but his casual, extroverted, sometimes even eccentric attitude bonds with Philippe's stuffier, upper-crust, and seemingly entrenched ways. The two develop an unlikely friendship and discover that there's much more to living than the simple acts required to get through the day.

The Intouchables is so simple it nearly defies the breakdown process; the movie represents, emotes, and leaves its audience swimming in a figurative sea of joy that comes from deep inside. It's a film in which any and every theme or plot element -- of which there is only really varying degrees of "life" -- work only toward that goal. The movie is great fun and wonderfully delightful but also deeply moving and so heartfelt it seems like the essence of honest storytelling and an accurate representation of a true, deep, unbreakable friendship (The Intouchables is based on a true story) that's hard to define through a flat, outwardly focused medium but that here is executed with surprising ease. The Intouchables surpasses even high expectations and builds not towards a goal or resolution but rather a sense of togetherness and purpose, a purpose to not exactly find oneself but rather to branch out and experience other things and, ultimately, to expect the unexpected, to embrace a breaking of the routine, to find that there's more to living than one's own life. The characters feel authentic and the humor comes across as genuine. The experience, then, is not one of dramatic surprise but rather a simple, guided tour of the realization that the good things that life has to offer may be found by anyone of any background, mindset, or physical capability; all that's required is the search. But to look at the film and see anything but the humanity -- to concentrate on the race or disability of the characters -- is to miss the point. The Intouchables is completely about the inner being rather than the outer, the stuff that truly makes a man rather than whatever might superficially distinguish him from another. It's the picture's uncanny ability to convey that message that really sets it apart from most others.

François Cluzet and Omar Sy are the film's unbreakable backbones; this is their movie in a way few others completely belong to the actors. While they're working from a brilliant script, it's their performances that find the depth beyond the words and the purpose beyond the admittedly generic, artificial, and, done improperly, dramatically hollow ideas of the interconnectivity of friendship, life experience, and living. Their ability to so effortlessly hone those ideas and transform them into the life essences of two individuals represents a remarkable achievement of acting. From the very beginning there's an unflappable chemistry that's really quite amazing to watch in action. The film begins near the end of the story and provides a perfect example of the both the superficial friendship and trust between the men but also the deeper, invisible bond shared between both the characters and the actors. The development of that relationship comes not effortlessly but certainly seamlessly as Philippe and Driss grow closer together on an intimately inward level and find in one another kindred spirits despite their outward contrasts that, aside from facilitating parts of the plot, really have no bearing on the story's development and exploration of its ideas of life and living. The direction is smooth but not at all intrusive; Nakache and Toledano are content to merely frame the actors, not attempt to cover up any nuance of their performances with needlessly slick camera work.

In The Intouchables, it's what's on the inside that counts. It's a genuinely touching and heartfelt film because it's so joyful and simple. This isn't hard, life-lesson cinema but rather a pleasant, inward look at how living isn't just about outward abilities. It's also about deep bonds and experiencing even the little pleasures life has to offer, of escaping a routine and learning that there's more to living than just the mere act of getting by or remaining immobile not physically, but stubbornly by refusing new ways of doing things, new ways of living. The picture is gently directed and remarkably acted; precious few actors find more natural chemistry than do François Cluzet and Omar Sy. It's a perfect movie -- funny, touching, easy to watch -- that transcends barriers and speaks a universal language of happiness, inner growth, and personal and interpersonal satisfaction. Sony's Blu-ray features top-tier video and audio. It's truly a shame there aren't more supplements included, but Blu-ray releases just don't get much better than this considering only the film and its technical qualities. Therefore, The Intouchables earns my highest recommendation.

[CSW] -4.3- An unprecedented box-office phenomenon in France, where it shattered records to become the second most successful French film of all time. This is rare uplifting movie that has one laughing, crying and the last thing that anyone feels in the movie for any of characters is...Pity. SPOILER ALERT: The director's said that much of the film was true. The cop car chase happened. Their relationship is exactly as portrayed. The letters did not but Driss was instrumental in Phillipe meeting his wife and it happened over a period of time so they condensed it with some beautiful fiction. The job interview happened pretty much as in the movie. Much of the script comes from the interview that the directors had with Phillipe and Driss. Phillipe agreed to the film but it had to be a comedy. The directors and Cluzet said that the personalities and chemistry of Phillipe and Driss are very well captured yet they are even better in person. The one last bit of fiction the directors said that Driss can't dance;) And although I consider this a once-is-enough film I also consider it a don't-miss film as well.
[V5.0-A5.0] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.


º º