Public Enemy Number One: Part One

Based on the true story of notorious French criminal Jacques Mesrine, Public Enemy Number One: Part One possesses the feel of an almost generic crime movie – yet there’s little doubt that the high energy contained within both Vincent Cassel’s performance and Jean-François Richet’s direction effectively cements the film’s success. The movie charts Mesrine’s (Cassel) rise from a low-level thug to one of France’s most notorious figures, thanks primarily to his penchant for abrupt bursts of violence and bold claim that no prison can hold him. Though screenwriter Abdel Raouf Dafri does tend to leapfrog over the years – Mesrine’s three kids seem to come out of nowhere – Public Enemy Number One: Part One generally does an effective job of transforming the central character into a fully-rounded, endlessly captivating figure. Cassel’s electrifying work certainly proves instrumental in holding one’s interest even through the film’s sporadic lulls, as there admittedly does seem to be a bit of an effort to pad out the running time to warrant two full movies (which inevitably does lead to a frustratingly abrupt conclusion). The flabby midsection does give way to an enthralling stretch set within a Quebec prison, where Mesrine runs afoul of an evil warden and eventually pulls off a breathtaking escape that ultimately stands as the highlight of the film. And while it’s difficult to pass final judgment without having seen the second half – Part Two is evidently still in the post-production phase – Public Enemy Number One: Part One‘s kinetic modus operandi ensures that it succeeds as a Scorsese-esque bit of violent escapism.

*** out of ****