Director Jean-François Richet creates an odyssey that depicts the "real" Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) in Mesrine: Killer Instinct. Mesrine may be new to American audiences, but he is a legend in Canada and France. "Infamous for his bravado and outrageously daring prison escapes, Mesrine carried out numerous robberies, kidnappings and murders in a criminal career that spanned continents until he was shot dead in 1979 by France's notorious anti-gang unit." He was a master showman that flirted shamelessly with the media while eluding the police.
The first scene shows him being assassinated by the French police in the streets of the 18th arrondissement then in lightening speed we move to a much younger Mesrine in the French Military in Algeria where he is being forced to shoot a prisoner. These two scenes sets the tone for much of the first half of the film, fast, violent and tortured. But this also sets us at odds, wondering who is the villain and who is the hero, Mesrine or the police? As Richet briskly takes us through Mesrine's early years, he introduces crime boss Guido (Gérard Depardieu), gangster Paul (Gilles Lellouche), who seem more like family than anything else and to wife Sofia (Elena Anaya) whose marriage was short lived. Intertwined with meeting these people are scenes in which Mesrine exposes his character through his exploits - loyal, explosive, charismatic, dangerous. Vincent Cassel does a superb job of embodying Mesrine. Cassel deftly portrays Mesrine as electrifying and mercurial as well as brutal and menacing. Some think this is Cassel's best performance to date.
Once the backdrop of Mesrine's early years are set in place, the film slows down and the story telling begins. We are introduced to Jeanne Schneider (Cécile De France) Mesrine's female alter-ego and love interest and Jean-Paul Mercier (Roy Dupuis) Mesrine's partner in Quebec, all of who deliver amazing performances. The film maintains both the romanticism of The Godfather and brutality of Goodfellas. Americans audiences might associate Mesrine with gangsters like Al Capone or John Dillinger. But because the authorities are portrayed as being as violent and ruthless if not mores than Mesrine himself, Mesrine's is a far more sympathetic character. He seems to be fighting against a dishonorable system that corrupts, not simply manipulating the systems for his own gain. Vive la liberté!
Mesrine: Killer Instinct had it original US premiere in May 2009 at the San Francisco international Film Festival and it has taken another two years for it to make it back to San Francisco and to theaters, but it is absolutely worth the wait. This is a fast paces action film that stands on its own. But knowing there is a sequel makes one wonder what more is to come? And can the next film, Mesrine: Public Enemy #1, stand up on its own the way Mesrine: Killer Instinct does. http://www.mesrinemovie.com/
Cast (first billed only):
Vincent Cassel (Jacques Mesrine), Cécile De France (Jeanne Schneider), Gérard Depardieu (Guido), Gilles Lellouche (Paul), Roy Dupuis (Jean-Paul Mercier), full cast and crew.
US Release Date: 27 August 2010 (limited). Directed by Jean-François Richet, novel "L'instinct de mort" written by Jacques Mesrine, screenplay written by Abdel Raouf Dafri, released by Music Box Films. Running time: 113 minutes; MPAA Rated R for strong brutal violence, some sexual content and language; genre: Action/Biopic/Drama.
Opening in San Francisco on Friday, September 27, 2010 in limited release at Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinema and Shattuck Cinemas. Check local listing for show times.
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