Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.0

The Intouchables Blu-ray Movie Review

Perfect picture, perfect sound, perfect movie.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman 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.

Music critics.

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.

The Intouchables Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Intouchables sparkles on Blu-ray. This is one of those perfect transfers in which everything is in order and detail, color, and clarity are about as good as one's going to find on Blu-ray. Every scene springs to life with superior resolution and details so precise the image looks nearly as good as reality. Fine lines in Driss' leather jacket, flawless facial features, woven sweaters, or all of the subtle little ornate accents around Philippe's home look absolutely gorgeous. Fine, consistent grain remains, accentuating the positives and helping to give an organic, film-like texturing to the entire picture. Colors are fantastic; every hue dazzles with a natural flavor, whether rich woods, Driss' worn-down jacket, or the vibrant array of hues in a paragliding sequence in chapter fourteen; if one scene stands out above the rest, it's that one. Black levels are stupendous, and flesh tones flawless. The transfer reveals not a single blemish, which is to expected of a new Sony release. This is Blu-ray goodness and reference material from start to finish.

The Intouchables Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Intouchables' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack offers a full, rich sound experience that's surprisingly active for a movie of this variety. Music plays a rather large role in the movie; there's plenty of classical and modern beats both, and both play fluidly and faultlessly across the stage. The picture opens with airy, gentle piano notes that play with a fine natural presence, pinpoint clarity, and the perfect amount of surround support. The sound quality remains unchanged no matter the style, place, or volume. Whether live orchestral classical music or catchy Dance tunes played from an in-film speaker, the seamless clarity and the ease with which the music seems to hug the audience proves incredibly effective, regardless of style. General sound effects are a pleasure, too; whether the revving of a car engine or the hum of a jet heard inside the aircraft's cabin, the track delivers its more aggressive and heavier sound elements with natural ease. Dialogue is clear and center-focused, always balanced and pitch-perfect, never lost under music or surrounding sound elements. The music, though, is the real highlight; every note is a pleasure and Sony's track delivers them all flawlessly.

The Intouchables Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, The Intouchables features precious few supplements.

• Deleted Scenes (SD, 5:35): I Know Sarkozy, Want to Split the Tip?, Explaining Art, Driss's Brother Visits, and Driss Buys a Bathtub.
• Sneak Peeks: Robot & Frank, Playing For Keeps, A Dark Truth, Silver Linings Playbook, The Artist, and Now is Good.
• UV Digital Copy.

The Intouchables Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.