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L'ennemi public n°1 (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
19 November 2008 (Belgium) morePlot:
The story of notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine. The follow-up film to "Public Enemy No. 1." full summary | add synopsisAwards:
6 wins & 7 nominations moreUser Comments:
Somewhat underwhelming, but an acceptable conclusion nonetheless moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Vincent Cassel | ... | Jacques Mesrine | |
| Ludivine Sagnier | ... | Sylvie Jeanjacquot | |
| Mathieu Amalric | ... | François Besse | |
| Gérard Lanvin | ... | Charly Bauer | |
| Samuel Le Bihan | ... | Michel Ardouin | |
| Olivier Gourmet | ... | Le commissaire Broussard | |
| Michel Duchaussoy | ... | Le père de Jacques Mesrine | |
| Myriam Boyer | ... | La mère de Jacques Mesrine | |
| Anne Consigny | ... | L'avocate de Jacques Mesrine | |
| Georges Wilson | ... | Henri Lelièvre | |
| Alain Fromager | ... | Jacques Dallier - journaliste pour Minute | |
| Alain Doutey | ... | Le président du tribunal à Compiègne | |
| Laure Marsac | ... | La journaliste interview | |
| Arsène Mosca | ... | Jojo - un policier | |
| Christophe Vandevelde | ... | Inspecteur Gégé |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Mesrine - L'ennemi public n° 1 (France) (poster title)Mesrine: L'ennemi public n° 1 (France) (promotional title)
Mesrine: Part 2 - Public Enemy #1 (International: English title)
Mesrine: Part II - Public Enemy #1 (International: English title)
more
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
133 minColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | France:U (with warning) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Ireland:16Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Benoît Magimel, who was at one time set to star, stepped down from the Mesrine project without informing producer Thomas Langmann, choosing instead to issue a press release. As a result of this a fight erupted on November 25th 2004 at the Intertalent talent agency between Langmann and Magimel's agent, François Samuelson, where Langmann headbutted Samuelson and broke his nose. Samuelson was on sick leave for nine days and pressed charges against Langmann. moreGoofs:
Continuity: In the scene where the farmer Daniel transports Jacques Mesrine and François Besse in his car, you can see that Besse climbs in the trunk first, and then Mesrine. When the car stops and Daniel opens the trunk, Mesrine gets out first, then Besse. But in the shots in between, you can see Mesrine holding a gun out of the hole in the back seat. How is this possible, since Besse lies between Mesrine and the back seat? moreFAQ
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Filmed back-to-back and released a month apart, the two movies chronicling the violent, exciting life of French bank robber Jacques Mesrine were undoubtedly meant to be a high point in the careers of both director (Jean-François Richet) and star (Vincent Cassel). At least, that was the case with the first installment, Death Instinct; the follow-up, Public Enemy Number 1, isn't quite as accomplished.
It starts exactly like Part One, with the scene of Mesrine's death, only this time we're shown the reactions of the public as well, especially that of a police office named Broussard (Olivier Gourmet). We then go back in time to witness Mesrine's multiple criminal acts, arrests, trials and successful escapes. In fact, one could almost say he gets caught on purpose in order to plan a stunning break-out. During one of his lengthier stays in prison, he befriends another crook, Jean-François Besse (Mathieu Amalric, Bond's adversary in Quantum of Solace), and once the two are out of jail they form a nearly perfect team alongside Mesrine's new wife Sylvie (Ludivine Sagnier). Too bad good old Jacques has been declared the French nation's biggest menace, which effectively authorizes Broussard and his team to take him down if necessary.
The title, which is obviously taken from the real-life scenario but could just as well be a homage to William Wellman's celebrated gangster picture, would appear to indicate the film is tonally similar to Death Instinct. It isn't. Whereas the first part was a dark crime film, the conclusion is a lighter deal, a caper, so to say, in the same vein as Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy (in which, coincidentally, Cassel had a pretty important role). Perhaps it was a deliberate choice to make the second chapter more fun, an ironic contrast of sorts to the bleak ending, but as a result the picture comes off as less interesting from a psychological point of view. Amalric, in particular, while delivering a charismatic performance, isn't given a proper chance to develop his character like Cassel was able to in Death Instinct. As for the leading man himself, his work is still riveting, but even he suffers from the lighter mood and lack of focus (he's still the best reason to watch the movie, though).
Nonetheless, the film moves at an acceptable pace, showcasing good set-pieces and giving Richet the opportunity to switch genres within the same movie. It doesn't quite work as expected, but the mess he handles is still a lot of fun, even if not truly worthy of a figure as complex and fascinating as Jacques Mesrine. Well, at least he's always got the first installment to look back on fondly.
6,5/10