When a notorious, highly sophisticated counterfeiter murders his partner, Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William Petersen) launches a furious vendetta to capture the man responsible. But master counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe) is always just one step ahead of Chance in William Friedkin's thrilling, suspenseful crime drama. With violent shoot-outs and a turbulent chase scene reminiscent of Friedkin's own THE FRENCH CONNECTION, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. broke with tradition by making the ostensible hero as morally reprehensible as the villain he pursues. Clashing with bureaucratic obstacles, Chance is forced to break the rules in order to procure cash for a sting operation, but the risks he takes snowball into an avalanche of violence and moral repercussions, leading to a morally ambiguous cul-de-sac from which there may be no return.
Secret Service agent Richard Chance will do anything--whether legal or not--to nail the creep who murdered his partner. Then he gets a lead on the killer...but the wily criminal is smooth enough to keep eluding capture.
Theatrical Release: November 1, 1985
Filmed in Los Angeles and San Pedro.
Excerpt: "Why are you running?"--John Vukovich (John Pankow)
"Because you're chasing me!"--Criminal
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Special Edition
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Monaural - Spanish
Stereo Surround - French
Additional Release Material:
Documentary: "Counterfeit World: The Making of TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A."
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary: William Friedkin - Director
Featurette:
1. Deleted Scenes
2. Alternate Endings
Text/Photo Galleries:
Photo Galleries
Sorry, this product does not have this type of information.
Review 1:
"...One of the great underrated films of the Eighties....A movie with a vision..."
Source: Film Comment
Review 2:
"...Vibrant....It's a kick to watch a lanky, fresh-faced Petersen..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.76 12/05/2003
Review 3:
"[With] kinetic action scenes....Three new faces made significant early impressions..."
Source: USA Today
p.5E 12/12/2003
Review 4:
"...TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is Friedkin at his glossiest....It's the car chases and shoot-outs and eye-catching settings that are truly the heart of the matter."
Source: New York Times
p.C18 11/01/1985
Review 5:
"...Engrossing....Extremely well cast....Everyone here seems capable of deception and moral duplicity, and then live up to those expectations..."
Source: Variety
10/30/1985
Review 6:
"Ridiculously entertaining car chase and all....The movie benefits from LA shimmer..."
Source: Uncut
p.158 11/01/2004