Mesrine: Parte 1. Instinto de muerte

"Mesrine Part 1: Killer Instinct" is a Biography - Crime movie in which we follow the life of french gangster Jacques Mesrine, his crimes and all his actions until he becomes the number 1 public enemy.

I have to admit that before watching this movie I was not sure what I was going to watch since I had not watched the trailer of it and I had just read one article about this gangster. I was happily surprised by it since it is a very interesting movie, with a well written script and many action scenes. The direction which was made by Jean-François Richet was simply amazing and I liked the way he presented Jacques Mesrine and he combined very well his family moments with his actions and also his love affairs. Regarding the interpretations of this movie, I believe that Vincent Cassel who played as Jacques Mesrine made one of his best performances and he was simply exceptional. I highly recommend everyone to watch this movie because I am sure that even if you are not a fan of crime movies you will like it. If you like crime movies then this is the movie for you.

Charistmatic gangster are a staple of cinema, and Frenchman Jacques Mesrine was actually liked to the most iconic of all such figures, Bonnie and Clyde. In truth, such people are rarely heroes, but this two-part story captures excellently the psychological processes that might have transformed an ordinary man into the public enemy of his day. Vincent Cassel is very good, and the film is full of suspense; it neither demonises nor glamorises its protagonist, and interestingly, sets his story against the backdrop of the political violence of the 1970s, which had a superficial interest to Mesrine as he built his own legend. Even if you're tired of violent criminal dramas, I recommend this one: the (true) story is amazing, and told with a humanistic viewpoint rare in such films.

Jacques Mesrine (1936 - 1979) was a well-known French criminal, getting himself a name for robbing banks and a number of murders. After having received a huge ransom for kidnapping a French millionaire in 1979, French authorities declared him 'Public Enemy Number One'. They increased their efforts to track Mesrine down, and executed him without a trial shortly afterwards. While imprisoned earlier on, Mesrine wrote his autobiography.

'Public Enemy Number One - Part 1' reflects the first part of this criminal's adult life. Starting in the late fifties in Algeria, where French soldier Jacques Mesrine served in the foul war of independence, we get a clear picture of his development as a master-criminal.

Although I think it difficult to judge the historical precision of its plot, this very French film surely makes a good watch. Male lead Vincent Cassel acts a convincing Jacques Mesrine, and the many supporting roles shine with equal quality. The parts 1 and 2 of 'Public enemy Number One' provide a real blockbuster that sticks to the mind.

For the fans of Ludivine Sagnier. She isn't in this Part 1, but will appear in Part 2.

It is a good movie based on French gangster cum Robin hood ( a kind of) Jacques Mesrine, who was also called of Public Enemy No. 1 and man of a thousand faces then. The story tells you that how a common man turns into notorious goon and then as a infamous gangster. Circumstances made him to be a thief, robber, kidnapper and killer. Scenes like between Jacques and his parents, with his wife and kids are emotional and make you to feel sympathy to him surely. Torture in prison also made him stone hearted. But he has a brave heart also to his women and one thing that he did not ever kill anyone without it was not much necessarily. Even a real tale movie will not bore you and you will definitely be waiting for second part. As me it is must watchable saga of a gangster. Coincidently I just watch 'Sacred Games' , an Indian web series which is similar to such subject. But it is too behind from such good movie, no comparison can be done when two are totally different quality. Both have implicit scenes but here you will not feel vulgarity whereas in Sacred Games you find yourself in a intentionally made uncomfortable situation. Any way I suggest this movie to thriller lovers especially who likes criminals biography. Well played roll.

We could argue for hours about the point that Richet is trying to make, is he simply celebrating and glamorizing the crazy life of Jacques Mesrine ? Is he trying to say something about the increasing presence of big brother in western countries (the patriot act in the US, cameras everywhere in the UK or the french debate about listings of people etc...)wish supposedly smothers us and would render the existence of men like Mesrine an impossibility? But in the end who cares ? The movie is an absolutely brilliant genre movie, with amazing actors at their best, an incredible recreation of seventies France, very realistic and visceral action scenes (all based on facts by the way !), and Richet's directing is very controlled, precise, you feel he knows what he wants, sort of the anti-Brett Ratner if you will, and the ambiance is spot on too. Time flew so fast when was watching the film, and now i just can't wait for the follow up which should arrive in 2009. truly great stuff !