Mesrine: Public Enemy No 1 Part Two
Director: Jean-François Richet
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Ludvine Sagnier, Mathieu Amalric, Olivier Gourmet
The first part of this stylish biopic was gripping, intense and altogether engaging. The second instalment, Mesrine: Public Enemy No 1 Part Two exceeds any expectations thrown down by its predecessor and delivers an altogether absorbing piece of cinema.
The action this time focuses on the last 10 years of the French gangster's short but epic life, and a magnetic Vincent Cassel is once again in exuberant form as Jacques Mesrine. He is now firmly established as France's most wanted man and with this notoriety comes an even greater arrogance. Mesrine's anger at General Pinochet's military coup in Chile making the front pages, ahead of his latest escapade, goes some way towards demonstrating just how self-absorbed the man has become.
An increasingly theatrical air surrounds Mesrine's every action: he poses for media photographs with the ease and aplomb of a professional ("That's a keeper, use it" he says of a particular shot), dons all manner of disguises in order to flaunt his cash in public, and views himself ever more as an anti-capitalist revolutionary. "I'm just robbing a bigger robber than myself...I exploit no one," he asserts in defence of all those bank heists. It is this heightened sense of self and introspective, increasingly crazed behaviour that contributes to his early demise. "Frankly, I don't think I'll get old" he predicts in one of many newspaper interviews given while on the run. And how right he is. The film ends as it began, amid a media frenzy, with Mesrine's bloodied body being lifted from his car after being gunned down by a flurry of police bullets on the streets of Paris.
Over the years, Mesrine's waistline has grown in line with his ego and despite his now rather bloated appearance, the enticing, dangerous charm remains as potent as ever. A mere curl of the lips and the women in his life are not just unable, but unwilling to resist him. Ludvine Sagnier plays Sylvia JeanJacquot, his romantic interest, who revels in their high-octane, glamorous lifestyle but also seems to really care about this troubled man. Similarly, it is his female lawyer who facilitates yet another highly audacious prison break, by smuggling in weapons for him.
For pure adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-the-seat action, this is the climactic point of the film. Mesrine teams up with fellow inmate Francois Besse (Mathieu Amalric) and together they stage a brazen, daylight escape, which, in terms of drama, is as nail-biting as it gets. The two then go on the run, traversing the French countryside and successfully managing to evade armies of policemen who comb the area meticulously, but to no avail. The film hurtles on, and as Commander Broussard (Mesrine's chief police nemesis) closes in on his man, the tension is relentless. Despite the ending being inevitable from the outset, Public Enemy No 1 still entirely captivates the attention of the viewer, taking them on a brisk, brutal, all-consuming journey and is well worth watching.
The%20Specs
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Madrid Open schedule
Men's semi-finals
Novak Djokovic (1) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 6pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11pm
Women's final
Simona Halep (3) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 8.30pm
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.