Mesrine: Killer Instinct

2008 1h 53m FR

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 1,029

DramaActionThrillerCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jacques Mesrine, a loyal son and dedicated soldier, is back home and living with his parents after serving in the Algerian War. Soon he is seduced by the neon glamour of sixties Paris and the easy money it presents. Mentored by Guido, Mesrine turns his back on middle class law-abiding and soon moves swiftly up the criminal ladder.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Vincent Cassel
Jacques Mesrine
Cécile de France
Jeanne Schneider
Gérard Depardieu
Guido
Gilles Lellouche
Paul
Roy Dupuis
Jean-Paul Mercier
Florence Thomassin
Sarah
Elena Anaya
Sofia
Ludivine Sagnier
Sylvie Jeanjacquot

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean-François Richet
Writers: Abdel Raouf Dafri
Languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, English
Countries: Canada, France, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 60% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 18 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Canada, France, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Mesrine Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean-François Richet, shot by Robert Gantz. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hervé Schneid shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean-François Richet directs. Robert Gantz behind the camera. Marco Beltrami scores. Hervé Schneid cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Canada, France, Italy. Dialogue in French, Spanish, Arabic, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 60% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 18 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, English.
4International production across 3 countries: Canada, France, Italy.
5Part of the "The Mesrine Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Jean-François Richet, shot by Robert Gantz. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Hervé Schneid shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Vincent Cassel and Cécile de France and Gérard Depardieu carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt1259014 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 14 themes, including "casino", "france", "based on novel or book", "kidnapping".
12Released under 29 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Gantz
Original score: Marco Beltrami
Editing: Hervé Schneid
Production design: Emile Ghigo
Costume design: Virginie Montel
Makeup / hair: Thi Thanh Tu Nguyen
Sound: François Groult
Runtime: 113 min · 1h 53m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $25,000,000
Box office: $15,000,000
Return: 60% of budget
Original language: FR
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008)

Part of

The Mesrine Collection

Jacques Mesrine, last of the great French gangsters, was declared Public Enemy Number One during his lifetime. He regularly finished atop the list of newsmakers in opinion polls. His spectacular death, shot full of holes by police at close range in the middle of Paris, put the crowning touch on his legend. Nearly thirty years after his demise in 1979, the myth of Jacques Mesrine is very much alive. Now, for the first time, this ambitious project brings his life to the big screen. At once a thriller and a biopic, the project is shot through with action and emotion, yet remains as faithful as possible to factual reality. Far from making a model or superhero out of Mesrine, the film portrays the character in all its complexity, including the darkest aspects. What will emerge is the story of the man behind the icon.

Also by

Jean-François Richet

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Bazzjazz2018-04-26
★ 8/10
This film is a two part film . Vincent Cassell is stellar as this gangster above the law. Based on true Events. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of violence.

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