While audiences debate whether to endorse the bank robbing fantasy TAKERS this weekend, a more gritty French film based on a true story quietly expands into art houses. That film MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT is the first of two parts that will unspool in limited release in coming weeks. And part one lives up to its title—it is a vicious, violent crime epic worthy of Scorsese-like attention.
Chronicling the rise of real-life French gangster Jacques Mesrine (a very good Vincent Cassel), KILLER INSTINCT succeeds by not romanticizing the subject. Mesrine may have some basis for his initial turn to crime, but as his appetite becomes more and more vile and cracked, any redeeming value to the man is lost. Mesrine is a killer who also robs banks and carries out sloppy crimes girded by a reckless and unyielding drive. He’s like a missile guided by greed, however, as INSTINCT reveals, the payoff isn’t just the possible financial reward, but something psychological and warped. Mesrine’s in the crime game for the thrill of it.
Not a film for all tastes, director Jean-Francois Richet (of the ASSAULT OF PRECINCT 13 remake) works from a script adapted from the book written by Mesrine himself. And having not read the source material I wonder whether the memoir is as uncompromising as this epic two-part offering. INSTINCT makes us dislike Mesrine, which is, of course, one of the movie’s problems. But I found the approach refreshing and entertaining in a dark way. In one scene Mesrine pushes his gun into the mouth of his wife after physically assaulting her. It is a turning point from which there is no retreat—Mesrine is a bad guy, unredeemably so.
Into this epic treatment we get a fine performance by Gerard Depardieu. The famous French thespian has yet to make good on claims that he will leave acting and that is a good thing. As Mesrine’s violent side escalates, Depardieu plays his part as Mesrine’s gangster boss skillfully allowing us to breath a little easier—even Mesrine’s fellow criminals are uneasy with his penchant for wickedness.
But as a star vehicle for Cassel, the son of prolific French actor Jean-Pierre Cassel, KILLER INSTINCT and its sequel are perfect choices. The title role gives Vincent Cassel many opportunities to play his character in layers as Mesrine ages and goes through many states of depression and physical injury (the man is shot it seems repeatedly). Already one of France’s premiere actors, Cassel is one to watch. I had a chance to interview him a few years about his excellent work in David Cronenberg’s EASTERN PROMISES and he has an infecting personality that no doubt comes from years of living in the acting business with his father. And that casual confidence is affecting here as such a likeable actor inhabits a dangerous and vicious being.
KILLER INSTINCT, part one of two, is the sharp slap of reality that folks taken with TAKERS might do well to seek out.
