JEAN-Francois Richet’s two-part biopic won three Cesars (the Gallic equivalent of an Oscar) including the director’s prize and Best Actor for Vincent Cassel in the title role.

Mesrine is an epic and brutal tale of crime and punishment inspired by the true-life exploits of one of France’s most notorious criminals.

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Following the opening salvo, Killer Instinct, this second chapter continues the escapades of Mesrine (Cassel) as he achieves notoriety and escapes from prison with fellow convict Francois Besse (Mathieu Amalric).

Aided and abetted by sexy girlfriend Sylvie, Mesrine gains in confidence by robbing two banks in the space of a single hour.

The opening two hours are arguably stronger than this second instalment, which becomes repetitive as Mesrine, Francois and Sylvie taunt the cops with their daredevil antics.