The Intouchables - the massive hit movie you've probably never heard of

[Badbird]

Written and Directed by Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano

Cast: François Cluzet, Omar Sy

Genre: Drama/Comedy

Rated R

Plot: A rich quadriplegic, living in a mansion in Paris, requires a live-in carer. A young offender turns up for an interview, but he is not really looking to get the job. However, to his surprise, he is hired. The two men then develop a close friendship.


So how does a movie make $350 million dollars and reach #76 on IMDB's Top 250 without anyone hearing about it? Well, it's a French movie, and Americans hate watching movies with subtitles. And it's playing on less than 80 screens.

Too bad, because this is the best movie I've seen so far this year. The above plot synopsis and even the trailer just doesn't do this movie justice. This is a damn near perfect movie - full of heart without an ounce of sappiness. It's rare to see something that is just so emotionally rewarding when it's all over.

Plus, this movie is fucking hilarious. Most of the humor comes from many "odd couple" situations, and it was funnier than most true comedies. Trust me, if you have an art house theater in your area that is playing this movie, go and see it.

10/10

[Strider]

Not only have I heard of The Intouchables, but I have every intention of seeing the film as well. I'm just waiting for it to expand a little more. I've heard nothing but great things about it, and it looks like a very good film. Looking forward to seeing it soon!

Strider

[SpikeDurden]

I've read a few reviews that say the film's racial politics are based on French society and thus may not play well for American audiences, but I definitely plan on seeing it soon. My Dad thinks it looks good so I'll go with him.

[Bourne101]

Doesn't look very good. It looks like the kind of thing that wouldn't get a pass if it were in the English language.

[Badbird]

Originally Posted by SpikeDurden

I've read a few reviews that say the film's racial politics are based on French society and thus may not play well for American audiences, but I definitely plan on seeing it soon.

That doesn't make much sense. There is almost nothing at all in the movie about "racial politics" - or whatever. One character is from the projects and wants to get government benefits to help his family before getting the job as a caretaker. That's about all the movie says about it. It is a non-issue.

[Darth Kenshin]

Originally Posted by Badbird

full of heart without an ounce of sappiness. It's rare to see something that is just so emotionally rewarding when it's all over.

That makes me happy to hear. Looking at the synopsis, I was expecting something sappy with some stereotypical race stuff thrown in there. Maybe I'll check it out at some point.

[SpikeDurden]

Originally Posted by Badbird

That doesn't make much sense. There is almost nothing at all in the movie about "racial politics" - or whatever. One character is from the projects and wants to get government benefits to help his family before getting the job as a caretaker. That's about all the movie says about it. It is a non-issue.

"But beyond the business headlines, what’s really fascinating about “The Intouchables” is the way it exposes the gulf in racial attitudes between France and the United States, along with another gulf that’s just as wide, the one that has film critics and cinephiles on one side and popular audiences on the other. Viewers in numerous countries have eagerly devoured this feel-good fable about two men of different races and classes who forge an improbable friendship (dubbed by some wags “Driving Monsieur Daisy”). While the audience for foreign-language film is inherently limited in America, there’s no reason to believe it won’t do well here also. At the same time, heated transatlantic debate has erupted over whether “The Intouchables” traffics in offensive racial stereotypes, with Variety critic Jay Weissberg writing an uncharacteristically angry review that accused the film of “Uncle Tom racism” and compared the Senegalese caretaker character to a “performing monkey.”"

[Badbird]

I have no idea what any of that means. The issue of race is so nonexistent in the movie that a statement like that comes off like someone going out of their way to be a cynic. It seems like American critics have latched on to the "magic negro" line and feel they have to apply it to any movie about a white guy and black guy who happen to be different.

In that regard, Beverly Hills Cop is a magic negro movie. Give me a break.

All of the humor, and heart, of the movie comes from the fact that these guys are like oil and water, but they still form a deep friendship. They are two sides of the same coin, in away, each giving the other what they can't have otherwise.

[rustysyringe]

I'm sorry, but the premise that a rich dude and a kid from the projects form some great bond IS sappy and forced IMO. To others, that may not be. But to me that reeks of sentimental bullshit.

Call me jaded, but just by your description I can tell this would cause me to throw up in my mouth.

[The Postmaster General]

Originally Posted by Badbird

I have no idea what any of that means. The issue of race is so nonexistent in the movie that a statement like that comes off like someone going out of their way to be a cynic. It seems like American critics have latched on to the "magic negro" line and feel they have to apply it to any movie about a white guy and black guy who happen to be different.

In that regard, The Toy is a magic negro movie. Give me a break.

All of the humor, and heart, of the movie comes from the fact that these guys are like oil and water, but they still form a deep friendship. They are two sides of the same coin, in away, each giving the other what they can't have otherwise.

Fixed.

[Badbird]

Originally Posted by rustysyringe

I'm sorry, but the premise that a rich dude and a kid from the projects form some great bond IS sappy and forced IMO. To others, that may not be. But to me that reeks of sentimental bullshit.

Had this movie not been playing at my theater, I probably never would have seen it either. Nothing I've posted so far really comes close to doing this movie any justice. The one thing I simply cannot stress enough is how goddamn funny this movie is.

But maybe this review will help. It's from a local critic who also had a hard time believing the movie would be good based on the plot synopsis.

“THE INTOUCHABLES” My rating: B+ (Now at the Rio)

112 minutes |MPAA rating: R

There are about 100 ways in which the French film “The Intouchables” could have gone disastrously, hideously wrong.

And somehow it avoids them.

Heaven knows that the premise is fraught with gosh-awful possibilities.

A millionaire paraplegic Parisian hires as his latest care-giver a black immigrant ex-con. And, oh gosh, you spend a while waiting for this street-smart wise guy to, Miss Daisy-like, transform the life of his wheelchair-bound employer. You know…the uptight, white man gets funky thanks to his black employee.

This is known in some quarters as the Myth of the Mystical Negro. Many people find it terribly offensive.

And in hands less competent than those of co-directors Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano — or the film’s stars, Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy – I might have found it offensive, too.

But “The Intouchables” pulls it off, although I’m not quite sure how the movie conned me into letting down my guard and buying in.

Certainly one of its strengths is the filmmakers’ straightforward approach, which eschews anything like good old-fashioned Hollywood emotional manipulation. There’s no insistent tugging at the tear ducts. Nakache and Toledano keep things light and airy, with lots of laughs. In fact, “Intouchables” is ribald enough to be classified a comedy.

The rich guy, Philippe (Cluzet), burns out his caregivers in record time. Already depressed by his situation (he’s a widower paralyzed in a hang-gliding accident), Philippe wants to be around someone who won’t feel sorry for him. And the cockily self-centered Driss (Sy, winner of best actor honors at the Cesars) fits that bill to a T.

Driss is a toothy charmer filled with sexual braggadocio, boundless energy and an insouciance that leave little time to feel sorry for other people. But he learns to deal with Philippe’s demanding physical needs, all the while laying down a constant chatter.

They’re an odd couple. Philippe’s quiet erudition — he’s a big fan of modern art and classical music — is in sharp contrast with Driss’ glad-handing. The Sengalese native grooves constantly to Earth, Wind & Fire playing on his iPod and sometimes breaks into a funky dance.

Though he enjoys playing the curmudgeon, Philippe obviously takes pleasure in Driss’ company, especially when he’s strapped into the passenger seat of the hot sports car he can no longer drive.

In truth, there’s a lot of emotion in “Intouchables,” but it’s all under the surface and carefully downplayed. As captured by the astonishingly charismatic Sy, Driss’ outward swagger hides inner insecurities, while Cluzet’s Philippe is an aching romantic who will not allow himself the luxury of sentimentality. One performance is broad and lively, the other carefully contained and modulated. The result is a screen pairing quite unlike anything you’ve seen.

The principals are nicely backed by the supporting players, particularly Anne Le Ny as Philippe’s main housekeeper and Audrey Fleurot as the freckled secretary on whom Driss lavishes much unreciprocated attention.

“The Intouchables” has been a monster hit in its native France, where in just two months it sold enough tickets to be the second most successful French film ever. Yet more proof that the end of the world is nigh: the French embrace a life-affirming movie.

| Robert W. Butler

Link

[SS-Block]

The Intouchables would've benefited from having something substantive to say on the issues of race and class, which are clearly of aesthetic importance to the filmmaker. Instead, we were left with superficial caricatures that only serve as a pat on the back to all of us who, for whatever reason, think the world is just so cosy.

A nice cosy film, albeit hollow. 6/10.

[maude]

I loved it. Went to see it with my very skeptical bf who normally hates subtitles, and he loved it. Went to see it again with a Senegalese friend who went to university in Paris, and she loved it.

[bigred760]

I've heard of it. It's playing a few miles from where I live. Been thinking about seeing it, but haven't been able to find the time.