Review of Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (2008) by Don S — 22 Apr 2011

I've seen this two-part crime drama compared to THE GODFATHER---maybe by me---but it's only the epic sweep of time and the brutality that make a comparison possible. Mesrine is about a megalomania who finds that he's good at robbery and jail-breaks, just as the culture of celebrity sweeps the world, France too. Richet glamorizes Mesrine, more like the recent two-parter about Carlos the Jackel than a naive heroic like Bonnie and Clyde. Whatever-- Mesrine is fascinating, primarily because of the propulsive and riveting performance by Vincent Cassel, who is on screen 99% of the time. Alas, they shot him down, just like Bonnie said. And there was a dogged detective who did the deed, just like B&C.

The movie feels ultra-realistic, sexy, crazy, and moves like a freight train.