newjerseynewsroom.com

BY PAULA SCHWARTZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

“The Intouchables,” the feel-good buddy comedy based on the true story of a rich, paraplegic aristocrat (Francois Cluzet) and the Senegalese ex-con (Omar Sy) who cares for him, was hugely popular in Europe, where it made more than $340 million since it opened last year. The film, by writer-directors Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, hit so many emotional buttons the French found it about as hard to resist as a floppy, cocker spaniel puppy. But whether it hits the same sentimental chords in Americans when it opens today remains to be seen.

The Weinstein Company has decided to team “The Intouchables” with a black-and-white film by Paul McCartney to his song “My Valentine.” The three-minute film, which is Mr. McCartney’s directing debut, features Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman in a split screen, translating the lyrics to Mr. McCartney’s love song in sign language. According to the Weinstein press release, Mr. McCartney’s short film will be shown before all showings of the French movie. The release goes on to say the film was inspired by Mr. McCartney’s daughter.

“Stella had a wonderful idea when she thought this song would translate well into a film, and I can’t wait to share it with our audiences when ‘The Intouchables’ comes out May 25,” Harvey Weinstein said.

In the film Ms. Portman looks all sultry and sexy, wearing a black little dress by - who else? - Stella McCartney. Mr. Depp is wearing a denim shirt and scarves and looks like he just wandered off the set of “The Lone Ranger,” where he is playing the sidekick Tonto. (Mr. Depp has also said in interviews he is part Native American.)

The song’s lyrics include, “What if it rained? We didn’t care. She said that someday soon, the sun was gonna shine. And she was right. This love of mine, my valentine.”

We like the way Ms. Portman makes her fingers flutter down to imitate the rain in time with the lyrics, while she looks so very beautiful and soulful, so very “Black Swan.” Mr. Depp looks very serious and maybe a little campy, but not in a “Edward Sissorhands” way.

The press release notes that the actors are translating the lyrics “each in their own distinct interpretations.” Their hand movements are not synchronized, which is to say we think Ms. Portman looks like she is sticking to the script, but that the eccentric actor might be doing a little sign-language freestyling.

Midway through the video, which was shot by Academy-Award winning cinematographer Wally Pfister, (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight”), Depp does a guitar solo, that the release says was recorded live.