Have you heard of French gangster Jacques Mesrine? If not, you need to watch this film. John Dillinger will fade into a distant memory once you sink into the sleek realm of this hardened criminal, whose reputation for violence and criminal nous is exceeded only by his reputation with the ladies.

A far cry from Michael Mann's nouveau epic Public Enemies, Mesrine: Killer Instinct is not afraid to show the stylish side of its subject matter. Fast editing, vibrant colours and screen-shattering shoot-outs including an audacious prison siege combine to create an atmosphere that crackles with energy and oozes cinematic cool.

But that's not to say that the man behind the image is neglected. Far from it. The story of Jacques Mesrine is told in such detail that it has been split into two movies - an honour only granted to legends like Che Guevara in recent years - making it an epic of real proportion. Beginning with Jacques' return from military service in Algeria, we chart his rapid disillusionment with civilian life, and follow him as he gradually becomes involved in the criminal underworld. Starting out as a henchman for mob boss Guido (played excellently by an on-form Gérard Depardieu), Mesrine is gradually sucked deeper and deeper into criminal life.

Running in tandem with his ever-expanding criminal network is his increasing list of lovers. From partner in crime Jeanne Schneider to his Spanish wife Sofia and even downtrodden prostitute Suzon, many women were dragged into the whirlwind life of this Gallic gangster and all were lost or abandoned in the chaos that accompanied it.

Fitting all of this in, and adopting a rapid editing style to keep up the pace, does mean that the experience is somewhat fragmented. We leap between key events with a dizzying rapidity, and sometimes it's hard to remain submerged in the story as an individual's experience when the screen seems to simply be presenting a series of quick (if compelling) events. Similarly, as we whizz through stages of Mesrine's life it is easy to lose track of who the man really is - particularly on this formative period.

But this is nit-picking. The rapid-fire pace of events may occasionally force a little more attention than you'd like from an easy Friday-night movie but on the whole this is a big plus for a film whose primary focus is to convey the adrenaline-fuelled giddy excesses of an extraordinary life. Exciting, visually stunning, and superbly acted by all involved, Killer Instinct will have you baying for the sequel the second that the credits roll.

Rating: ****

Starring: Vincent Cassel, Cécile De France, Gérard Depardieu, Gilles Lellouche, Roy Dupuis, Elena Dupuis
Director: Jean-François Richet
Release date: 7th August 2009
Run time: 113 mins
Language: French
Certificate: 18

Review by Michael Edwards

You can read our review of the second part of the Mesrine story (Mesrine: Public Enemy Number 1) HERE.

If you like this, you may want to know what we have to say in our Public Enemies review. You might also fancy having a look at Anything for Her for another edgy French thriller.