In 2008, a four hour film about mesrine starring vincent cassel appeared in france. Mesrine was notorious both for his violent exploits and for the media attention he attracted, and he remains very much a public media figure in france and europe. Jul 24, 2015 4 nov 1979 aftermath of the shooting of criminal jacques mesrine in paris. Killer instinct, the french murderer, bank robber, and kidnapper had ascended to the rank of modernday legend. His status is legendary and by the time the film starts, he has earned himself the title of public enemy number 1. He was responsible for numerous bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings, and claimed in an autobiography he wrote from prison to have committed upwards of forty murders. Lebensbericht eines staatsfeindes by mesrine, jacques and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The appearance of mesrines book resulted in france passing a son of sam law. Vincent cassel is a cesar awardwinning french actor best known to englishspeaking audiences through his film performances in oceans twelve and oceans thirteen, as well as black swan. Vincent cassel in biography of french gangster the new. Jul 28, 2009 vincent cassel interview for mesrine one of frances best loved actors, vincent cassel has always refused to court hollywood. Paris police redouble their efforts against gangster and publicityhungry celebrity jacques mesrine by forming a unit dedicated to stopping him. No gangland assassination, the gunmen were french policemen, while the driver of the car was none other than, jacques mesrine frances public enemy number one. Feb 04, 1984 jacques mesrine 28 december 19362 november 1979 was a french criminal who was also briefly active in the united states and canada. Soon he is seduced by the neon glamour of sixties paris and the easy money it presents. Now the subject of a cinematic diptych, directed by jean francois richet and starring vincent cassel. His status is legendary and by the time the film starts, he has.
Vincent cassel as frances public enemy number one the. Vincent cassel, the cocky, snakeeyed french actor with a prizefighters mug is so charismatic in mesrine, a fourhour biography of the notorious. Vincent cassel stars as bank robber jacques mesrine in public enemy number one, the second half of jeanfrancois richets gangster epic. The death instinct deals with the early years of mesrines criminal life, including a horrifically graphic description of a murder he committed early on in his career and a. Based on the autobiographical books of jacques mesrine. Rex call it a caveman creed, but cassel really seems to believe that selfreinvention, past a certain age, is less feasible for women.
Vincent cassel, the cocky, snakeeyed french actor with a prizefighters mug is so charismatic in mesrine, a fourhour biography of the notorious french gangster jacques mesrine, that you. Frances public enemy number one from the late 1960s to the end of the 1970swhen he was killed by police in a sensational traffic shootoutjacques mesrine 19361979 is the bestknown criminal in french history. Killer instinct is an actionfilled biopic starring vincent cassel as jacques mesrine, the french gangster known for his devilish charm, audacious bank robberies. Vincent cassel as antihero jacques mesrine music box films the twopart tale of french gangstershowman jacques mesrine is as densely packed and serially rambling as. Aug 27, 2010 vincent cassel, the cocky, snakeeyed french actor with a prizefighters mug is so charismatic in mesrine, a fourhour biography of the notorious french gangster jacques mesrine, that you. When we last saw jacques mesrine vincent cassel at the end of mesrine. Killer instinct, the french murderer, bank robber, and kidnapper had ascended to.
Jan 20, 2011 french actor vincent cassel is an unlikely sex symbol. Cassel is back as jacques mesrine, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. Dec 12, 2014 that last detail comes from one of the many youtube videos you can watch of the shootings aftermath, waiting to be compared with jeanfrancois richets 2008 twopart film mesrine. Killer instinct, was based on mesrines autobiographical book. Apres avoir regarde les 2 films avec cassel, je me suis decide a acheter ce livre. Though we are briefly introduced to an older mesrine, the film quickly flashes back to his origins. The adventures of jacques mesrine, the legendary bandit of the 1970s, are part of french. As played by cassel, mesrine is a compelling character in part because we can never quite pigeonhole him.
Aug 26, 2010 cassel is back as jacques mesrine, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. Director jeanfrancois richet begins in 1979, with mesrines uncommonly violent death, whereby he and a beautiful young woman are suddenly. And that was the end of jacques mesrine, frances public enemy number one. Charts the outlaw odyssey of jacques mesrine, the legendary french gangster of the 1960s and 1970s who came to be known as french public enemy no. Vincent cassel absolutely dominates the screen as the completely crazy, vicious french gangster jacques mesrine. Public enemy number one, both starring vincent cassel. Aug 08, 2009 vincent cassel in mesrine r ichard maibaum, now best known for scripting the best james bond movies, ran into censorship problems in 1949 when adapting the great gatsby for alan ladd. Jacques mesrine 28 december 19362 november 1979 was a french criminal who was also briefly active in the united states and canada. The movie is generally true to the book and well worth seeing. Mesrine is played, in both installments, by actor vincent cassel, who reportedly underwent massive weight gain and weight loss to convincingly portray the volatile mesrine at various periods of his life.
Death instinct, is based on mesrines autobiography and covers the early years in algeria, france and canada. Mesrine, an audacious publicity hungry bank robber and kidnapper, became one of. Mesrine dvd the seattle public library bibliocommons. Vincent cassel in mesrine r ichard maibaum, now best known for scripting the best james bond movies, ran into censorship problems in 1949. Cassel is also renowned for playing the infamous french bankrobber and folk hero, jacques mesrine in mesrine. Jacques mesrine was a french criminal responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies. Vincent cassel, in a fourhour biography of a french gangster, gives a.
The death instinct published by tamtam books by jacques mesrine. 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. Sep 03, 2010 when we last saw jacques mesrine vincent cassel at the end of mesrine. Now the subject of a cinematic diptych, directed by jean francois richet and starring vincent cassel, mesrine, had taunted the cops for twenty years. Nobody kills me until i decide, says vincent cassel as legendary french gangster jacques mesrine 193679, and it is this cocksure attitude that infuses director jeanfrancois richets epic and. The autobiography of one of frances most notorious criminals. This was the year in which jacques mesrine, a notorious french bankrobber, murderer, media darling and. The adventures of jacques mesrine, the legendary bandit of the 1970s, are part of french lore, and the venture is aimed to captivate the. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his exploits included trying to kidnap the judge who had. Almost 30 years after he was killed by french police in a spectacular shootout, jacques. One of the books published to coincide with the movies is mesrine intime. Vincent cassel in biography of french gangster the new york. Comparisons have been made of the 2008 mesrine depictions by vincent cassel to al pacinos 1983 celebrated portrayal of fictional cuban drug lord tony montoya in scarface.
With vincent cassel, ludivine sagnier, mathieu amalric, samuel le bihan. The french outlaw jacques mesrine, who terrorized france and killed 39 people, is the subject of the thrilling mesrine. The versatility, genius and eternal toughness of vincent cassel. Killer instinct introduces us to jacques mesrine vincent cassel, a loyal son and dedicated soldier back home and living with his parents after serving in the algerian war. Mentored by guido gerald depardieu mesrine turns his back on middle class lawabiding and soon moves swiftly up the. Public enemy number one, detailed mesrine s criminal career. And with his latest performance as one of frances most notorious. Oct 31, 2014 in 2008 there were two featurelength films based on his life, one of them starring vincent cassel in the lead role. He garnered wide recognition with englishspeaking audiences for his performances in oceans.
As two new films put jacques mesrines grizzly life story on screen, john lichfield. In 1959, jacques mesrine vincent cassel is approaching the end of a tour as a french soldier in algeria, and somewhat hesitant about the brutal techniques used to quell the rebellion. Mesrine, an audacious publicity hungry bank robber and kidnapper, became one of the all time great prison escapees, and. Killer instinct,jacques mesrine vincent cassel, frances most notorious hoodlum, seemed to have robbed every bank worth robbing and escaped every prison that offered a. Jacques mesrine the greatest bank robber that ever lived.
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 raouf dafri and richet. Vincent cassel, brilliant in the lead role, refused to accept the first version of the screenplay which, he complained, was too romanticised. In short, mesrine was the kind of criminal who seemed to crave the spotlight at least when it wasnt shining down from a guard tower in the prison yard and thanks in large part to a careerdefining performance by acclaimed french actor vincent cassel, director jeanfrancois richets mesrine. Jacques mesrine book, abdel raouf dafri scenario 2 more credits. Now the subject of a cinematic diptych, directed by jean francois richet and starring vincent cassel, mesrine, had taunted the cops for twenty.
Starring french superstar vincent cassel black swan, this highoctane crime thriller sports an allstar cast and a long list of awards. Vincent cassel, brilliant in the lead role, refused to accept the first. In 2008 there were two featurelength films based on his life, one of them starring vincent cassel in the lead role. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his. Having made his name by playing violent, intense men, hes been cast in another dark, morally dubious film role in the new ballet thriller. Public enemy number one, depicts his life in france during the 1970s.
Jacques mesrine tshirt frances public enemy number one slim fit tshirtt shirt hoodie for men, women unisex full size. The death instinct deals with the early years of mesrine s criminal life, including a horrifically graphic description of a murder he committed early on in his career and a highly detailed account of the workings of the french criminal underworldmaking this book. The story of notorious french gangster jacques mesrine. May 14, 2008 vincent cassel as frances public enemy number one. Vincent cassel interview for mesrine one of frances best loved actors, vincent cassel has always refused to court hollywood.
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