Review of Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (2008) by Barnaby G — 05 May 2013

As tales of sadistic criminal behavior go, the French picture "Mesrine: Killer Instinct" is one of the more vividly paced offerings I have seen in recent memory. It is a true story of one of Europe's most infamous and charismatic criminals, Jacques Mesrine, played brilliantly by Vincent Cassel. The first first film is based on his autobiographic novel, documenting and projecting himself as brutal man who shot dead 39 victims during his 20-year run as a bank robber and kidnapper. A sprawling tale of violence, audacity, and desperation, funneled through an electrifying performance from star Vincent Cassel.

His story begins with Jacques returning home to France after time spent in the military inside Algeria. Jacques isn't interested in a daily job or a structured life, preferring to join a criminal organization led by kingpin Guido (Gerard Depardieu). Rising in the ranks due to his loyalty and criminal skills, Mesrine quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with, electing a life of danger over the needs of his family, including wife Sofia (Elena Anaya). Soon taking a like-minded mistress (Cecile de France) and moving to Quebec, Mesrine searches for a simpler life, but after a few stints in prison, it temporarily cools his criminal ambition. However, with his instincts impossible to contain, Mesrine escalates his profile from a common crook, into a prolific media driven gangster with style.

Mesrine escapes from two high-security prisons, kidnaps a millionaire, broke back into one of the prisons in an attempt to free his friends, and went on the lam in Quebec, Arizona, and Florida. He justifies his brutal rampage as acts of revolution against the state. While officers are participating in a continuous on-going manhunt for this dangerous gangster, Mesrine is granting exclusive interviews with magazines, and wrote tender love poems to his lawyer. And yes, this is a true story.

The combinations of both films were nominated for ten César Awards, of which it won three (Best Actor, Best Director, Best Sound). The performance by Vincent Cassel, who portrays the title character, is unquestionably deserving. Cassel masterfully captures the essence of a complex criminal during various stages of his life. He doesn't give Mesrine great depth because he is a psychopath, but he holds a commanding presence. He is brutal, and inscrutable--like a wild animal that kills for survival. He walks into banks to rob them displaying a celebrity-like status, as if he was making a guest appearance. Mesrine puts himself right in the middle of the action without hesitation.

Women were inexplicably willing to commit themselves to him. One of a kind gangster and playboy combined, who cherishes his Public Enemy #1 persona, which ultimately leads to his inevitable demise. The style here is categorized by its high energy, with a lot more impact than one expects from the laid-back French film industry. They have an impact recalling the days when gangster movies were grounded in reality, gritty and raw. The first film is easily the better of the two, but still a fantastic crime drama and highly recommended.