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Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

Play trailer Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct R 2008 1h 53m Action Biography Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
French gangster Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) eventually becomes Public Enemy No. 1.
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Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

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Critics Consensus

It's undeniably uneven, but Vincent Cassel's electrifying performance makes Mesrine: Killer Instinct a gangster biopic worth seeking out.

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Critics Reviews

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David Jenkins Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 16, 2011 Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic Four hours of French gangsters may not sound like a cinematic joy, but with Euro-star Vincent Cassel in the lead role, the movie is utterly hypnotic. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 12, 2011 Full Review Robert Koehler Variety The effect of Richet's hyperventilating filmmaking is akin to that of an extended-play trailer. Jan 21, 2011 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Audiences may only gather a sense of the character and what drives him, however, the film would rather just tell Mesrine’s incredible story than try to understand what motivates his every crime. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 9, 2023 Full Review Jason Best Movie Talk Vincent Cassel is suitably charismatic, volatile and dangerous in the lead role. Nov 22, 2020 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture Despite its broad characterizations and some confusing chronology, Mesrine: Killer Instinct still manages to entertain. Rated: 3/5 Oct 28, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bob Vincent Cassel simply makes 4 hours of cinema an offer you can't refuse. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/10/23 Full Review Myles W The combination of the 2 parts .. you should not view these as separate movies, it's split in 2 for commercial reasons but really it's 1 3.5 HR movie like once upon a time in America... This is possibly the greatest crime film ever made, please persevere with the subtitles and it will be worth it... What's more incredible is it's true.. fantastic cast, career best performance from some, amazing script and superb direction... Its just one of the best ever Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/23 Full Review Liam D Great start to a true story this thriller was pretty great and one of the better Gangster movies to come out in recently memory. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/24/20 Full Review Audience Member salut je laisse rarement des traces de moi sur internet ou autres mais en voyant vos critiques je me suis senti obligà (C) d'en ecrire une moi aussi! pas pour vous contrer mais pour vous signaler qu'en fait ce film est un chef d'oeuvre et vous expliquer pourquoi. je suis belge et fascinà (C) par les grand faits divers qui ont secouer certains pays d'Europe. en fait, derriere ce film il y as à (C)normà (C)ment de travail, de documentations, de recherche, d'interviews et de tà (C)moignage des protagonistes encore vivants (du cote de la police ou des voyous comme des journalistes ou simples temoins, et même la famille ou les proches de Mesrine comme sa compagne presente a ses côtes lors de sa mort et qui as à (C)tà (C) gravement blessee et en portes encore des sequelles aujourd'hui) et le film est tres proches de la realità (C) c'est tres soignà (C) vous pouvez par exemple aller voir sur youtube des extrais de journeaux televise ou chercher des images et coupures de presse on jurerait que certains extraits sont tirer de la rà (C)alite de plus sa explique aussi pourquoi la police n'as voulus prendre aucun risques en decidant de l'abattre beaucoup soutiennent encore aujourd'hui que c,est un assassinat. voilas j'espere avoir servis a quelque chose et je vous invites a regarder la deuxieme partie la difference entre les deux c'est que le premier est realisà (C) à partir du livre ecrit par Mesrine lui même en prison alors que le second est plutôt realisà (C) a partir de de documentation, d'enquête, de tà (C)moignages et archive de police et de presse. bonne lecture et veuillez m'excuser pour mon mauvais anglais. si quelqu'un veut le corriger pour qu'il soit plus comprehensible vous pouvez le faire bonne vision. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member **** This first chapter, 'Mesrine: Killer Instinct' is a nail-biting blast. The movie features a fantastic lead performance by Vincent Cassel and a break-neck pace that doesn't let up. Can't wait for Part 2! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Good action movies which keep you glued are great and when they are based on a true story they are simply SPECTACULAR. This movie is a definite must watch for Action & Gangster movie fans. The first scene catches you, ties you to your seat and keeps you high for the next 2 hours. There are many movies which show the lives of criminals but this one stands out! Each scene is important in the build up to the end. You wouldn't feel a drag for a single second, in fact, once the movie ends you would be left wanting for more. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

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Cast & Crew

Mesrine: Part II - Public Enemy 1 81% 82% Mesrine: Part II - Public Enemy 1 Watchlist Breaking Point 0% 20% Breaking Point Watchlist Public Enemies 68% 59% Public Enemies Watchlist Punisher: War Zone 29% 42% Punisher: War Zone Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis French gangster Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) eventually becomes Public Enemy No. 1.
Director
Jean-François Richet
Producer
Thomas Langmann, Serge Hayat
Screenwriter
Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet, Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
Production Co
Téléfilm Canada, Région Haute-Normandie, Cinémage 2, Novo RPI, La Petite Reine, Banque Populaire Images 8, Remstar Productions, 120 Films, M6 Films, Angoa-Agicoa, Uni Étoile 5, Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles (SODEC), Uni Etoile 4, Procirep, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinematographie, TPS Star
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Language|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre
Action, Biography, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 22, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$551.7K
Runtime
1h 53m
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