The Intouchables
Rating: 10/10
I've been criticized many times for my harsh movie ratings, I've also been asked to open more of the what are my thoughts behind them and now I am finally want to open more about my thoughts.
So for starting this series, let me begin with my personal all time favourite movie — The Intouchables. Hold your horses, I am not trying to be movie critic or try to justify my thoughts based on cultural relevance, cinematography, trending wanna be relevant movies or something sophisticated. My personal view on films are personal, I like movies that makes me feel something and that is how every film in my opinion should be rated. Don't get me wrong, of course I love a good story, beautiful frames, electrical actor performances, but they are not the most important part for me, it all comes to mix of all that, mixed with my view on life and my personal life, if there are some things that feels like something somewhere deep in my soul, those are the movies that I love. So understanding this point of view, hopefully helps you to understand my approach but I think by saying that, I need to open more of my life and myself so you can understand why this movie is so dear to my heart. This may also be something that you don't give a shit about and it is also completely fine, God bless you. If you are interested, awesome, continue reading.
So let's get in to the movie. The Intouchables is a movie that touched me deeply and changed me as person and a boy dreaming of becoming a feature film director. The characters, the themes and the story resonated with me. No I am not crippled nor am I a black French refugee, but I am and have always been a stranger in each country that I've lived or visited, the curse of being a mixed breed. Throughout my life the themes of poverty and extreme richness been also present. I lived in Indonesia growing up, as a family we haven't owned much but thankfully we've always survived. To get a maybe a better understanding of it, I've never received a gift from my parents for birthday nor Christmas. I never felt poor, but growing up in an environment where I was surrounded by extreme wealth of people compared to the movie like Crazy Rich Asians, yes I could see the wide gap. Luckily for me, these people in my life that had been blessed with dead presidents, has been nice, and they've cared for me. I can't count how many times have they paid for my meals, trip fees or even a multi country trips in Europe. That clash of two different economical background presented in movie was so relatable for me, and the friendship that was formed between Philippe and Idris. And what a well written characters with superb acting. I don't think that a deep love and friendship between two males are represented in modern cinema enough. That is one theme that I am also working on right now with a TV series that I am developing, because I've been fortunate enough to have this brotherly figures in my life and I wouldn't be here without them.
Intouchables has also perfect balance of drama and comedy, life in itself is a comedy and that is exactly how in my opinion it is present in this movie. Idriss's scenes with the man that parked outside the door and his interactions with Bastian — so good. This film is also very stripped. It leans on the development of the characters, their hardships in family life and romantic life. The shame and fear of being yourself but also the journey of overcoming it, with the help of a friend. The dialogue is funny and doesn't feel written, more likely it feels like it has been lived through. Maybe because it was based on real life friendship and their life. That is also something that we need more, not all stories needs to be based on real persons and stories, but lot of the films feels like plastic nowadays, beautiful frames and CGI blast without a soul and a heart. But yea, if you haven't watched this film, watch it. If you disagree with me, your taste in film is shit, just kidding.
This is my all time favourite and it makes me emotional everytime and also hopeful, it makes me want to be a better and more loving human being. I think that is a pretty freakin good outcome from watching a film. Fun fact: I was in Paris last month. Vive la France!
I don't know how these reviews should be written but you have to start somewhere I guess and I am trying to do it in a way that feels fun for me, experimental.
If you had the energy to read it all the way through, thank you! Let me know what you think and feel free to share your thoughts on the comments :)
All love,
Misael Sine
Film Director