Leading the field with a record 10 nominations for the César awards, the French equivalent of the Oscars, is two-part saga Public Enemy Number One.

On the evidence of the first half shown at Toronto last September, it’s one of the thrillers of the decade. The protagonist is the reckless gangster Jacques Mesrine, portrayed with chilling conviction by Vincent Cassel. Director Jean-François Richet shows terrific flair for the visceral action set-pieces that abound in his movie based on the autobiography Mesrine wrote in jail.

The Class took five César nominations, as did I've Loved You So Long, featuring Kristin Scott Thomas. French box-office phenomenon Welcome to the Sticksgot a single nomination, for best screenplay. Guillaume Depardieu (son of Gérard), who died last October at the age of 37, received a posthumous nomination as best actor for Versailles.

The Césars will be presented in Paris on February 27th.