As you can tell by this graphic, “Mesrine,” the two-part French crime epic starring Vincent Cassel (“Irreversible,” “Ocean’s 12”) as Jacques Mesrine who became France’s most notorious criminal throughout the 1970s was supposed to see a release in April of this year.
April came and went and we obviously didn’t hear a peep.
Now we have official word from publicists repping the film. Part One, “Mesrine: Killer Instinct” will now open in limited release (NY/L.A.) on August 13 and then Part Two: “Mesrine: Public Enemy Number One” arriving a few weeks later on September 3 (NY/L.A. again). Music Box Films is the distributor.
The pictures also stars Gérard Depardieu, Ludivine Sagnier (“Swimming Pool”), Samuel Le Bihan, Mathieu Amalric (“A Christmas Tale,” and the villain in “Quantum Of Solace” for Americans), Gilles Lellouche, Elena Anaya (“Sex & Lucia,” an upcoming Almodovar film) and Cecile de France (the gorgeous star of Claude Miller’s very underrated 2008 French film, “Un Secret,” who also has a lead role in Clint Eastwood’s upcoming spiritual drama, “Hereafter”).
Delays upon delays, we hope the films are worth the wait, but “Mesrine” did score an impressive ten nominations at last year’s Cesar Awards (France’s Oscars) and the picture went on to take three awards including Best Director (Jean-François Richet), Best Actor (Vincent Cassel) and Best Sound.
