Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1

"I won't live till I'm old, they'll shoot me down, I'll die. It's the only outcome." The second part of Richet's thrilling biopic of notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine won't disappoint those who loved its predecessor. It might disappoint those looking for something different but if it ain't broke...

Picking up moments after Killer Instinct's opening scene, a scene that foreshadowed his death in 1979, Mesrine (Cassel) now lies dead on the streets of Paris, his bloody torso riddled with bullets. Standing over him is the man who brought him down - Commissioner Broussard (Gourmet). In similar fashion to Part 1, the movie then flashes back to another time: it's 1973 and Mesrine is up to his old tricks by robbing two banks in a row. Arrested, he takes a judge hostage with a gun smuggled into court during his hearing and he escapes. Later, cornered in his girlfriend's apartment by the anti-crime squad, Mesrine is arrested again and this time sent to 20 years maximum security. In jail, he meets escape artist Francois Besse (Amalric) and the two format a plan to escape. Escape they do and the two team up to rid banks and casinos of their cash.

Richet directs in a similar fashion to Killer Instinct: once again the scenes and years flip by with such velocity it can be hard to keep up. It's easier to grasp it all this time out, however, as the audience has come to expect such a rollicking pace. Richet isn't a director who likes to slow down for everyone to catch up - you're either on board or you're not. His brilliance is showcased in the final sequence, which is the first scene of Killer Instinct but this time it's seen through the eyes of the police. There are elements that differ, though. Public Enemy No. 1 is funnier than Killer Instinct; Richet gives Cassel more room to be that suave and witty man that was only hinted at earlier. Gone too is Mesrine's ruthless nature for a more sympathetic man. The romance angle - this time with Sagnier - is bumped up, which gives him a more humane touch. He only really lets loose when he's interviewed by a right-wing journalist.

Cassel, piling on the pounds for Mesrine's latter years, is on fire - this, coupled with Killer Instinct - is the movie that's going to be listed when it comes to talking about the actor's best. He has fun with Mesrine, adding a master of disguise talent to his repertoire. Sagnier, taking up the Bonnie role that Cecile De France touched on in Part 1, is given more screen time than her predecessor and is more memorable as a result. Where as Depardieu was the other marquee name (but felt miscast) in Killer Instinct, Amalric is the other name on the poster here. He's not miscast, but there's nothing memorable about his character. He's solid, though.

Mesrine 1 & 2 would work better as a whole and, even though asking an audience to sit through a 4 hours plus movie is a big ask, its entry into the 'best gangster movies of all time' list now a must.