(en français)

Based on the true life of French gangster Jacques Mesrine, sometimes compared to Dillinger.

These are gritty violent and nasty movies. They’re not stylized glamour pieces AT ALL*. I liked the first one better. You could see the evolution from a frustrated angry young guy into a vicious gangster. Not excusing it at all, but you could sort of see where he got set on his path. By the second movie, he is far too into his legend and convinced that people see him as a folk hero** while much of his violence is the result of his inability to control his own anger.

Vincent Gallo is really great in this role…and really horrifying. Although repellent at times to a degree that it was hard to believe that woman after woman would agree to be involved with him. But I partially have a rough time with that actor due to Irreversible, a movie I hope none of you are ever forced to watch. Horrifying.

These were both good, both were seeing. But be prepared.

*i.e., this ain’t no Public Enemies.
**He broke out of a prison that had insanely inhumane conditions (later closed on that account) and then went back and tried to help others escape.