To Live and Die in L.A. (Special Edition)

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William Friedkin briefly revived his faltering career with this sleek, bleak thriller of a pair of secret service agents on the trail of a counterfeiter. William L. Peterson is the hotshot protégé of a career agent killed by the ruthless, almost feral counterfeiting genius Willem Dafoe (Platoon). Now Petersen, teamed with the smart but still green John Pankow (TV's Mad About You), is ready to twist arms, lean on criminals, steal, and even murder to exact his revenge. The harrowing chase through the streets of Los Angeles that climaxes on the freeway at rush hour, where Friedkin's brilliant twist sends them heading the wrong way, careening through a sea of cars coming straight at them, is still one of the most breathtaking car chases ever filmed. Friedkin's edgy crime thriller, stylishly shot in steely blues against hazy red and orange skies by Robby Muller (Paris, Texas), paints a very thin line between the good guys and the bad guys, and Wang Chung's techno soundtrack sets the proper mood--jumpy and alienated. It's a cynical and very brutal look into the world of law enforcement (adapted by Friedkin and former Secret Service man Gerald Petievich from his novel) and a cold portrayal of the power games between cops and feds, and cops and informants. John Turturro, Dean Stockwell, and Robert Downey Sr. are featured in supporting roles. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

To Live And Die In LA.......2007-09-10

This is one of the most original Films of the 1980's
and it was overlooked or not advertised.
It should be re released in theaters.

The City of Angels.......2007-08-27

Secret Service Agent Richard Chance portrayed by William Petersen does eveything to catch his partner's killer counterfeiter Eric Masters played by Willem Dafoe who is really creepy in this movie. Very edgy movie.

Corey Cotta, Author of All Of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

And what a soundtrack!.......2007-06-08

I remember seeing this in the theatre. Never saw it again until now. I'm going out to buy the Wang Chung soundtrack. Wm Petersen is perfect in this role.

Smog gets in your eyes.......2007-03-28

Mean streets don't get any more jaded than Friedkin's hot and dusty, baked-on nasty L.A. in the nihilistic 80's. The sun seems to set on the stench only to rise, far too quickly, over an even wearier, more dangerous world. From the cliché start (partner shot hours before retirement, the ensuing vengeance), this film quickly flips into a more thought-provoking story, where the cop (a Secret Service agent) morphs into (or maybe always was) easily the most cynical, manipulative, vicious piece of work on film, pitting himself against a suave counterfeiter (Dafoe) who's almost likeable, given his counterpart. All of it's swathed in the red smudge of a dying sun, and twenty years on, sticks out as one of the best caper movies--minus any illusions whatsoever--I can remember.

Live and Die.......2007-03-24

Surprisingly after all the praise and wonderous words spoken via the internet and family, it still took 22 years for me to watch "To Live and Die in L.A."

Being a fan of William Petersen (of C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation - The Complete Sixth Season fame) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)/ Boondock Saints (Unrated))and William Friedken (The French Connection (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)), it was almost a natural I would enjoy this movie.

The story of a Secret Service agent played by Petersen who is determined to stop at nothing in order to take down his adopted nemesis; a counterfeiter who poses during the day as an artist. The complexity of their differences is astounding. Petersen's character, Chance, is the type of guy who lives by the seat of his pants. He's always taking risk after risk with his own life. He's hotheaded and tempermental. With a personality like this, it's amazing he's a Secret Service agent whom we first see guarding the President!

Meanwhile, Dafoe's character: Masters is the polar opposite. He's disturbed, like Chance, but he takes his craft, his art, his talent and puts it where far too many people don't: he makes money for himself...litterally. He not only forges legal tender, but sells what he makes.

The rest of the cast is full of the "Hey! I know him (or her)!" moments as well. From John Turturro (O Brother, Where Art Thou?/The Big Lebowski (Widescreen Collector's Edition)) to John Pankow (notable from Mad About You - The Complete First Season) to even Jane Leeves. (Frasier - The Complete Fifth Season)

William Friedken is a genius when it comes to crime drama. More precisely, based upon films like this, The French Connection, and The Exorcist, he's a master of the thriller genre. The heroes in his films are flawed to say the least, but determined.

The action in To Live and Die in L.A. is a pure adreneline rush. It's nice to see Petersen running and dodging danger with gusto not seen in his more subtle, laid back approach to his CSI role. The infamous car chase is one of the best filmed to date. Just when the audience thinks it may be close to completion, another obsticle stands in the heroes way, then another, and another!

Then there's the ending, shocking to say the least. I believed I heard everything there was to know about the film, but then the last fifteen or so minutes blew me away. Original, and fantastic.

But of course, if one should decide to give someone else a tour of pure 80's style action films, this should not be the first. The music, albeit considered classic now, shows its age. The style, far from lackluster, is obviously low budget. The budget doesn't hurt the story, script, directing, or flow, mind you, it is just something which could go unappreciated by first time watchers.

Anyway, the movie is well worth whatever price you decide to pay. For Friedken Fans, for Willam Petersen fans, for Willem Dafoe fans.
The characters are rich to say the least. This is the type of action movie and cat-and-mouse game a lot of films long to be.

To Live and Die in L.A. (Special Edition) / Assault on Precinct 13 (Special Edition) {2 DVD Set}

Average customer rating:

To Live and Die in L.A. (Special Edition) / Assault on Precinct 13 (Special Edition) {2 DVD Set}

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000BDBTH4

Average customer rating:

A TIMELESS CLASSIC

To Live and Die in L.A.
Starring: Christopher Allport , Anne Betancourt , Brian Bradley , Dwier Brown , and Michael Chong
Director: William Friedkin
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
Accessories:

ASIN: B000FVR5Y8
Release Date: 2006-01-30

Description

William L. Petersen (Manhunter, CSI ) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) face off in a deadly game of cat and mouse in this riveting (The New York Times) action-thriller from the Oscar(r)-winning* director of The French Connection. Full of flash, style and grit (Boxoffice), this raw tale of corruption and revenge features one of the most harrowing car chases ever caught on film and a shockingly explosive ending. Federal Agent Richard Chance (Petersen) has a score to settle, and he's through playing by the rules. Whether that means blackmailing a beautiful parolee, disobeying direct orders or hurtling the wrong way down a crowded freeway, he vows to take down a murderous counterfeiter (Dafoe) by any means necessary. But as the stakes grow higher, will Chance's obsession with vengeance ultimately destroy him? *1971

Customer Reviews:

A TIMELESS CLASSIC.......2006-11-10

This is a film that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of your film preferances. This was William Petersens first film and clearly showed what a truely good actor he is. While the ending is not quite what i would have preferred and is a bit tacky in it's presentation it still stands out as a one of a kind film. For those of you who only know of Petersen as the CSI'S Mr Grissom, I suggest that you go back to his early roots in film starting with this one.

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