Music Box films to distribute US summer 2010
Music Box films has acquired the US rights to the complete two part film.
February 26, 2010
For immediate release
MUSIC BOX ACQUIRES FRENCH GANGSTER EPIC ‘MESRINE’
Chicago, IL….Music Box Films is pleased to announce the acquisition of all US rights to Jean-François Richet’s two part gangster epic MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT and MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1, starring Vincent Cassel. This 4 hour, $50 million production, based on the autobiography of the notorious French bank robber, kidnapper and prison escape artist Jacques Mesrine, provides Cassel a career defining performance that earned him a Cesar for Best Actor in 2009.
Mesrine (1936 -1979) had the distinction of being Public Enemy No. 1 in two countries on two continents (Canada and France) and became such a political embarrassment that he was essentially assassinated by French police on the streets of Paris. Cassel so thoroughly inhabits the character – he gained and lost over 40 pounds to play the part – he manages to make a homicidal sociopath into an always charismatic and at times almost noble figure while never soft pedaling the pathology. A crack supporting cast includes the likes of Gerald Depardieu as young Mesrine’s mentor in the rackets, accomplices Mathieu Almaric and Roy Dupuis and molls Cecile de France and Ludivine Sagnier while Olivier Gourmet is his relentless police adversary.
Director and co-writer Jean-François Richet returned to France after making “Assault on Precinct 13” in the US, and took the Best Director Cesar 2009 for his efforts.
Music Box partners Edward Arentz and William Schopf negotiated the deal with Gregoire Melin, managing director of Kinology, the film’s international sales agent. The film has now sold throughout the world.
Music Box’s Schopf calls it a “French ‘Scarface’” and says that “while it evokes the great tradition of French policiers and underworld crime dramas, it is also a muscular world class action film anchored by Cassel’s towering lead performance. We know American audiences will love it.”
Grégoire Melin: “After our fantastic experience on TELL NO ONE, Music Box was the ideal partner for promoting and distributing the excellent MESRINE, where Cassel’s talent explodes”.
The films begin their US theatrical release in summer 2010.