A Profile of Cool French Actor Vincent Cassel

Star of Films Mesrine: Killer Instinct & Mesrine: Public Enemy No 1

Oct 2, 2009

A look at the film career of France's bad boy actor du jour who starred in La Haine, got married to Monica Bellucci, & made his name as the go to guy for tough man roles.

Never mind public enemy no.1, Vincent Cassel has got to be France’s leading man no. 1. His career spans French art-house films (Read My Lips, The Apartment), Hollywood blockbusters (Oceans 12 and 13), comedy (Guest House Paradiso), and even a madcap animated adventure, featuring a grumpy green ogre (he provided the voice for Monsieur Hood in Shrek). Whatever he’s doing, Cassel brings an undeniable Gallic cool to his roles. Like Gerard Depardieu before him (France‘s former favourite leading man), Cassel’s looks are unconventional, but like Depardieu he also has an edgy, dangerous quality and a mesmerising screen presence.

Vincent Cassel in La Haine

La Haine is undoubtedly the film that brought Vincent Cassel to the attention of the film world. His explosive performance as troubled youth Vinz had a resonance that echoed around the world, and brought with it a Paris that had rarely been seen before. La Haine is set in a poor area that’s populated by immigrants and rife with drug-taking. The story focuses on the racial tensions and everyday police brutality which stirs up thoughts of hatred and revenge amongst the downtrodden residents. La Haine concentrates primarily on three young residents, Vinz, Said and Hubert. Of the three, Cassel’s Vinz is clearly the most volatile, a matter which isn’t helped when he finds a gun, lost by the police during a riot.

La Haine, which means ‘the hate’ builds to an inevitable, violent conclusion, but what comes across really strongly is how, at heart, Vinz is not so bad. His youth, his difficult circumstances, his vitality, his anger - all these things need an outlet, but Vinz is not a bad person. He is not a good person either, but he is very real and familiar. It is possible, easily, to feel sympathy for him and his friends, whilst still despairing of the uncontrollable spiral of violence the film depicts. Cassel’s performance captures this complex mix of emotions, and translates them perfectly into cinematic gold.

European Cinema’s Golden Couple

Off screen, along with his beautiful wife Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel makes up one of world cinema’s most desirable, talented and respected couples. His piercing blue eyes and lean, angular features contrast with her dark, brooding, Italian good looks. The couple have, so far, starred in nine films together, plus the short comedy Compromis.

What Films Do Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci Star Together In?

Vincent and Monica met whilst making the BAFTA award winning L’apprtement in 1996 - A brilliant film, made shortly after La Haine, in which Cassel proved he could do romantic lead just as well as tough guy. The pair have since worked together on many other projects, including the controversial Gaspar Noe film Irreversible. Brutal scenes in Irreversible reputedly caused many walkouts - and a couple of passings out - at its debut in Cannes in 2002, but the couple remain resolutely proud of their acting performances in it. The following is a list of the films starring both Cassel and Bellucci:

Vincent Cassel’s Latest Projects

Cassel’s most recent screen outing was as France’s answer to John Dillenger, Jacques Mesrine. Two films were released, back to back - Mesrine: Killer Instinct and Mesrine: Public Enemy No.1. Cassel was outstanding in his role as the charismatic criminal, but although the films received a certain amount of good press both in the UK and America, arriving hot on the heels of Johnny Depp’s Dillenger epic Public Enemies, may have had a negative impact. Perhaps people weren’t ready to see another famous gangster true life story up on the screen so soon. Plus, it’s not like French films hang around that long at the multiplex anyway. Mesrine will undoubtedly reach a bigger audience now that it’s out on DVD and Blu-ray.

Coming soon, Cassel has voiced another animated character, this time for a French film Lascars. As a petty crook struggling to deal with his best buddy’s plans to go straight, Lascars sounds as though it’s right up Cassel’s street. He’s also in the moody coming of age film A Deriva and has started production on The Cross - a futuristic thriller starring Orlando Bloom. His name has also been attached to Eleven Minutes, along with Mickey Rourke and Alice Braga. This proposed film is an adaptation of Paulo Coehlo’s novel, and is currently in pre-production.

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