Jacques Mesrine is France's answer to our Scarface except that Mesrine was real and Pacino's Scarface, though loosely based on the original film of the same name; which was loosely based on the life of Al Capone (he's the guy who orchestrated the St. Valentine's Day Massacre) is purely fictional. Whew!
The film story of Mesrine comes in two parts (Killer Instinct and Public Enemy #1) and stars Vincent Cassell (Eastern Promises) in what will probably become his best-known role. Together, the films offer non-stop action of the instant classic variety.
If you are a fan of the American gangster film genre -- Godfather series, GoodFellas, The Departed, or The Sopranos -- try Mesrine or other comparable foreign films: The Prophet (France), Animal Kingdom (Australia) or Gomorrah (Italy).
Post by Phil Carr
