Jacques mesrine was an architecture student from a middleclass family who went off to fight in the algerian war while a teenager, and returned in 1959 with a lust for violence that only a. Aug 27, 2010 can you have too much of a good thing or a bad man. See more ideas about number one, mafia gangster and old quotes. The film is brilliant in showing the criminal repercussions of mesrines lifestyle. Had social media existed back in the 1960s and 70s, he would have been even bigger. A ruthless crook, a killer film the french outlaw jacques mesrine, who terrorized france and killed 39 people, is the subject of the thrilling mesrine. Oct 23, 2008 jacques mesrine was known as frances public enemy no 1, a pathologically violent gangster who claimed to have killed 43 people and staged a jailbreak from every prison he was sent to. Killer instinct is a truelife french gangster film so in awe of its subject that it cant fit the entire story into one film. He was responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in france and canada.
The story of french gangster jacques mesrine, before he was called public enemy n1. Jacques mesrine, who was nicknamed the man with a hundred faces, is without a doubt the most famous french gangster. He was also the man with 1,000 faces who wore three wigs at the same time for easy disguises. The first part deals from mesrines time in the army and criminal life from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. The first in a duology, the film details the genesis of mesrines career, including an incident in the army that gave him his first taste of violent power. Lennemi public no 1 is part 2 of a 2008 french biographical crime film on the life of french gangster jacques mesrine, directed by jeanfrancois richet and written by abdel raouf dafri and richet. Jacques mesrine throughout the 1970s was the most dangerous criminal in frances history. Crime drama featuring the infamous and flamboyant french gangster, jacques mesrine. Oct 23, 2008 vincent cassel will play jacques mesrine, who died in 1979 in a hail of police bullets. Barbet schroeder was originally hired to direct the two mesrine movies. The true story of notorious french bank robber jacques mesrine vincent cassel, who, throughout the sixties and seventies, was public enemy number one. Very well acted, particularly by vincent cassei who also does a fantastic job in le pacte des loups and a number of other movies. Jeanfrancois richets twopart film about jacques mesrine, one of the most notorious french criminals of the 60s and 70s, was a big hit in france when it was released in 2008. Nicolas silberg stars as the eponymous lead character.
Vincent cassel continues his role as jacques mesrine, a french gangster with a large public following and a bit of an ego to match. A twopart masterwork, mesrine opened in europe back in 2008 netting star vincent cassel the french equivalent of an oscar the. Jul 28, 2009 jacques mesrine was an architecture student from a middleclass family who went off to fight in the algerian war while a teenager, and returned in 1959 with a lust for violence that only a. Mesrine is, however, the more ambitious both in scope and scale and by far the better film.
In the police or newspaper history, mesrine broke all records. Starring french superstar vincent cassel black swan, this highoctane crime thriller sports an allstar cast and a long list of awards. Killer instinct, the shapeless, overstuffed first half of a twopart french canadian biopic collectively telling the life story of infamous french criminal jacques mesrine. Mesrine escaped from two highsecurity prisons, kidnapped a millionaire, broke back into one of the prisons in an attempt to free his. Mesrine is the gangster epic public enemies wanted to be.
The legend we now know as jacques mesrine was not born in his native france, but in quebec, canada. Mesrine is a 1984 french film written and directed by andre genoves. Both parts were released one month apart in late 2008. Taking a 20year arc, from jacques mesrine serving the french army in algeria through to his rise and ultimate fall as an attention grabbing criminal, a more suitable comparison would be sergio leones flawed masterpiece. Although this is being released as a separate film, its still. The story of notorious french gangster jacques mesrine. The first film, killer instinct, was nominated for nine cesars the french equivalent of the oscars in january.
Jacques mesrine, lhomme aux mille visages duration. That total doesnt include the prisoners, possibly dozens, executed point blank after theyd been tortured during frances war against algeria. I smiled as he boasted at the beginning of the film of being public enemy number 1. Cassel is convincing and riveting as mesrine, which helps balance out the films problematic slick shallowness and disconnects. Vincent cassel will play jacques mesrine, who died in 1979 in a hail of police bullets. Jacques mesrine was a brutal man who shot dead 39 victims during his 20year run as a bank robber and kidnapper.
The story of french gangster jacques mesrine, before he was called public enemy. Aug 26, 2010 jacques mesrine is back in the second part of jeanfrancois richets two part riveting biopic on the infamous french gangster. By late 1960s jacques mesrine was well know to the police authorities in france, switzerland, spain, and italy. I was surprised to discover that one man could commit so many offences. Killer instinct, a punchy new film about the prolific criminal jacques mesrine. They have been massive critical and box office hits in france, where le monde has. Mesrine is a french biopiccrime film diptych directed by jeanfrancois richet. For americans whose appetite was whetted at the toronto international film festival by the first part of this saga about french gangster jacques mesrine, the second half is worth the wait. Jacques mesrine is back in the second part of jeanfrancois richets two part riveting biopic on the infamous french gangster. Frances public enemy number one, jacques mesrine, returns. Called the french scarface total film, this electric twopart. Frances public enemy number one, jacques mesrine, returns in. In what is his easily his best performance to date. Killer instinct is the first part in the two part explosive biopic of legendary and almost mythical french gangster, jacques mesrine.
On his return to france, mesrine goes hell for leather to fuel his legend as an unbeatable crime superstar, wooing journalists as he skilfully evades capture by the police. Killer instinct is part 1 of a twopart 2008 french canadian mesrine film series directed by jeanfrancois richet and starring vincent cassel as the french criminal jacques mesrine. With nicolas silberg, caroline aguilar, gerard sergue, michel poujade. He had a bone chilling reputation, and a knack to sell himself to the public eye to make him more popular. From the 1960s in paris to the beginning of the 1970s in canada, the film explores the early career of a criminal in a class by himself. Released at the cinemas as two movies killer instinct and public enemy no 1 this is the stunning story of one of frances most notorious criminals, bank robber jacques mesrine. That hybrid of the cool and the crumpled is rather undermined in mesrine. Jul 11, 2009 but for french audiences there is clearly a deeper and more potent agenda at work. It chronicles the life of french criminal jacques mesrine played by vincent cassel, from his days as a crime syndicate underling to the. Nov 14, 2012 vincent cassel continues his role as jacques mesrine, a french gangster with a large public following and a bit of an ego to match.
But for french audiences there is clearly a deeper and more potent agenda at work. The story of french gangster jacques mesrine, before he was called public enemy na1. He fled to canada with his new girlfriend and accomplice, jeanne schneider. As it was, he was almost a robin hood figure, and this film details more of his rise and unceremonious decline. This blistering biopic stars vincent cassel as notorious french gangster jacques mesrine. Mesrine is a twopart 2008 french biographical crime film on the life of french gangster jacques mesrine, directed by jeanfrancois richet and written by abdel.
The film is based on the real life of jacques mesrine, a notorious french bank robber and murderer who became frances public enemy number one. Vincent cassel absolutely dominates the screen as the completely crazy, vicious french gangster jacques mesrine. This part deals woth mesrines life from the early 1970s until his death in 1979. Apr 23, 2009 for americans whose appetite was whetted at the toronto international film festival by the first part of this saga about french gangster jacques mesrine, the second half is worth the wait. The son of a businessman committed his first burglary at the age of 23. Can you have too much of a good thing or a bad man. Vincent cassel is outstanding as the title character, brutalised by his time in the french army in algeria. Gerard depardieu also appears as a gangster in the film titled public enemy number one. Mesrine was the foremost criminal, public enemy n1, the man most wanted in france, guilty of 39 crimes. It featured nicolas silberg in the title role and was written and directed by andre genoves. Nach seinem militardienst im algerienkrieg kehrt jacques mesrine 1959 nach frankreich zuruck. Jacques mesrine was known as frances public enemy no 1, a pathologically violent gangster who claimed to have killed 43 people and staged a jailbreak from every prison he was sent to.