Every country has it's legendary Gangsters . In The UK it is the Kray Twins , In Italy it's anyone in The Sicilian Mafia , In America there is a list as long as your arm but not many people outside of France have heard of Jacques Mesrine ...... Now you have.
Based on the true story of gangster Jacques Mesrine - Mesrine presents the rise and fall of France's most notorious criminal through a two-part showcase; wherein a series of hold-ups, prison breaks and kidnappings, give us an insight into 'The Man with 1000 Faces'. Episode one creates the foundation of Jacques Mesrine's character; from his youth as a dedicated soldier serving in the Algerian war to his seduction by the neon glamour of Sixties Paris and the easy money it presents. Mentored by Guido , the handsome and charming Mesrine soon works his way up the criminal ladder, and flees to Canada with his lover Jeanne having pulled off an audacious heist. However, he cannot resist the temptation of one big payout, and is lured out of hiding and propelled towards international notoriety...
I'm a sucker for a gangster movie. Without a doubt it's my favourite Movie Genre and Mesrine : Killer instinct ticks all the boxes i require in a movie like this. The action is fantastic , the acting is totally believable and the personality that was Jacques Mesrine , makes this highly watchable . I have to confess i had never heard of Mesrine but thanks to a fantastic performance by Vincent Cassel , I'm unlikely ever to forget him.
If you like your Gangster movies then i can recommend this one to you. You might have to hunt for it thanks to people's ridiculous squeamishness for films with subtitles but as usual the foreign language film rarely disappoints and the best this about this film is that it's just the first part. There is a second film called Mesrine : Public enemy number one , and i cant wait to put it in the DVD player!
