Scene - Blogs - Tulsa says Oui to The Intouchables

Tulsa says "Oui!" to "The Intouchables"
Published: 8/31/2012 6:28 AM
Last Modified: 8/30/2012 6:45 PM

The French film "The Intouchables" has charmed Tulsa audiences in the same manner as it has the rest of the world, and it is now the No. 1 foreign-language film that has played at Circle Cinema.

The megahit comedic drama ($355 million in box-office receipts outside the U.S. alone) about a quadriplegic and his unlikely caregiver is still playing at Tulsa's arthouse theater, now in its sixth week.

"We'll probably have it here for a few more weeks, and you never know, it just might become our biggest ticket-seller, foreign-language or not," said Clark Wiens, president of the foundation for the nonprofit theater at 10 S. Lewis Ave.

The film has attracted audiences of all ages, Weins said, and to which I can attest. When attending the film two weeks ago, it was a Saturday at 1 p.m., and my wife and I were fortunate to claim two of the last remaining seats.

On the list of foreign films, "The Intouchables" topped the original Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" for the No. 1 spot at the Circle since it reopened in 2004. Behind that is "La vie en Rose," for which Marion Cotillard won her Oscar playing Edith Piaf in 2007.

Three English-language films remain at the top of the Circle's box-office list. At No. 1 is 2011's adaptation of the classic novel "Jane Eyre."

At No. 2 is 2010's "Winter's Bone," the Ozarks crime tale starring an Oscar-nominated Jennifer Lawrence, and No. 3 is "Sweet Land," the sweeping 2006 period picture about immigrants coming to America in the early 20th century that proved to be a local hit.

If "The Intouchables" continues its success for a couple more weeks, it's possible that a subtitled film could become the most-attended picture in the Circle's new history.

"We knew the film would find an audience," Weins said, "but this has been a word-of-mouth sensation, with so many people telling us they would tell others about this wonderful film."

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Jayhawk Ken (6 months ago)

The Intouchables is successful because, among other things, it is an original story. Originality is something Hollywood has struggled to produce over the past 20 years. In a roiling sea of films based around superheroes, car chases, body switches, haunted houses and adolescent-behaving men, Circle Cinema consistently finds islands of paradise to entertain and inform us. What a valuable asset it is to the arts and livability of Tulsa!

Thunder196 (5 months ago)

"The Intouchables" is definitely one I would like. As a rule I don't usually care for foreign films but this one looks like a must see.

Just finished watching the trilogy last week of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played With Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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