Mesrine: Public Enemy #1

2008 2h 13m FR

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 969

ActionThrillerCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After nearly two decades of legendary criminal feats, making him France's most notorious criminal while simultaneously feeding his desire for media attention and public adoration, Mesrine becomes increasingly paranoid and isolated, leading to a dramatic confrontation with the law that ultimately seals his fate as the nation's most infamous public enemy.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Vincent Cassel
Jacques Mesrine
Ludivine Sagnier
Sylvie Jeanjacquot
Mathieu Amalric
François Besse
Gérard Lanvin
Charly Bauer
Samuel Le Bihan
Michel Ardouin
Olivier Gourmet
Commissioner Broussard
Georges Wilson
Henri Lelièvre
Michel Duchaussoy
Pierre André Mesrine, father of Jacques

Credits

Behind the camera

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

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 2 languages: French, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Canada, France.

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 Marcus Trumpp. 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 Bill Pankow 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. Marcus Trumpp scores. Bill Pankow cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Canada, France. Dialogue in French, 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 2 languages: French, English.
4International production across 2 countries: Canada, France.
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 Marcus Trumpp. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Bill Pankow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Vincent Cassel and Ludivine Sagnier and Mathieu Amalric carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt0411272 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Released under 34 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Gantz
Original score: Marcus Trumpp
Editing: Bill Pankow
Costume design: Virginie Montel
Makeup / hair: Thi Thanh Tu Nguyen
Sound: François Groult
Runtime: 133 min · 2h 13m
Status: Released
Budget: $25,000,000
Box office: $15,000,000
Return: 60% of budget
Original language: FR
IMDB: Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (2008)

Awards

Lumière Award for Best Actor

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

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.