Just saw this film last night, and I highly reccomend it.
Jacques Mesrine was France's most famous gangster, operating from the late 50s to the late 70s. He robbed banks, held rich people hostage, broke free from some of the highest security prisons around the world, helped the Quebec Liberation Front, and had an absolutely insane life. This film is the true story of his life. It's in two parts, though both are released almost simultaneously. Vincent Cassel (La Haine) plays Jacques Mesrine, and he is pretty awesome in that role.
It's a great gangster movie, and the Director doesn't shy away from showing the unpleasant aspects of the main character. It's not black and white, and the emotions felt for the main character are conflictual. You can't help but admire and be repulsed by the guy at the same time. It's also fascinating to see how what he did then could never be replicated today.
Anyway, highly reccomended, and I can't wait for the second part. I don't know if its been released in the US cinemas yet, but its already on all good torrent sites.