The Intouchables Movie Review!!!

One of the best movies of 2012! 'Nuff said! Check out the review here.

Keeb and I did a podcast ages ago where we talked about some random movies that we really liked.   Three of those turned out to be French movies.  We lamented how the French, love ‘em or hate ‘em, have a knack for making real gems for the silver screen.  The Intouchables is one such movie.

François Cluzet of Tell No One fame (another great movie) returns to us as Philippe, a French aristocrat left quadriplegic from a paragliding accident.  The movie opens with Philippe holding interviews for a full time, live-in carer.  The applicants are all suit wearing, briefcase carrying clones.  All except one.  Driss, played by Omar Sy, a young black man recently out of jail.  Driss has no real interest in getting the job, just a signature to show he tried so that he may be eligible for his unemployment benefits.  Much to his surprise, he gets the job.

The movie is about the unlikely friendship that the two develop and how that friendship in turn then changes both of them and both of their lives.  It’s a beautiful film that tells a beautiful true story.

Without Driss, it is obvious that Philippe has lost his will to live. He has no passion, no joy, and no real pleasure in life.  He has resided himself to the fact that he is slowly, and sometimes painfully, dying with nothing to live for.  Driss shows him that this is not the case.

Without Philippe, Driss is clearly destined to a meaningless life of crime in the projects of France.  A life similar to that in the movie La Haine.  Paris, the city of romance has its dark underbelly too.  Something that Driss would never have left if not for his friendship with Philippe.

In this way, it really is remarkable that these two people met in real life.  It’s as if it was meant to be, so that they may both be set on the right path.

François Cluzet gives us an amazing performance, there is just no other way to describe it.  You must remember that his character is paralyzed from the neck down so all he has to work with are his facial expressions.  With a slight flicker of a cheek or twitch of an eyelid, such precise and nuanced natural acting the likes of which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, every single emotion, every sense and feeling that Philippe is experiencing can also be experienced by the viewer.  It really needs to be seen to be believed. 

Omar Sy also turns in a fine performance.  Loud and brash when he needs to be, quiet and contemplative when he needs to be.  The chemistry between François and Omar on screen really draws you into the lives of Philippe and Driss.

I really don’t think I can fault this movie.  Agreed it’s not for everyone but everyone should give it a chance.  

A great, feel good, life-affirming movie, it's easily one of the best movies of 2012 – check it out!

Rating 5 out of 5.

Bobby