To Live and Die in L.A.

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2:05

To Live and Die in L.A.

R

1985

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Along with his new, straitlaced partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sets up a scheme to entrap Masters, resulting in the accidental death of an undercover officer. As Chance's desire for justice becomes an obsession, Vukovich questions the lawless methods he employs.

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Critics Consensus

With coke fiends, car chases, and Wang Chung galore, To Live and Die in L.A. is perhaps the ultimate '80s action/thriller.

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Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

02/07/2023

The high point of the film is a stunning car chase, in which the agents drive against the flow of traffic on a busy six-lane freeway that is only surpassed by the one in Friedkin’s earlier masterpiece, The French Connection.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

08/22/2021

4/5

If Friedkin occasionally goes overboard, he certainly commands an attention-getting technique and manages to tell a fascinating story.

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Catharine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

08/22/2021

8/10

Comparisons to TV's "Miami Vice" are probably inevitable because of the picture's look and sound track. But "To Live and Die in L.A." is hotter, faster, kinkier, and has better music.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Nov 21

4.5/5

Leave it to William Friedkin to trample all over the moral righteousness warmly asserted in the prologue, seize a map of popular culture, and march boldly and loudly off it into uncharted, unforgettable territory.

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Morgan Shaunette

Willamette Week

May 21

Live and Die remains one of the late director’s best: a neo-noir caper with a sharp script and the occasional burst of grindhouse violence.

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Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Mar 23

Friedkin is a master making the sweaty and seedy suspenseful.

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David H

@dhannon_pdx Dec 26

I am not sure why the reviews are so high, especially the reviews recently posted. Frankly, the movie was dated, disjointed, and disorganized (sorry, I love alliteration). The car chase and climactic scenes are pretty solid, as well as the opening that gets the story rolling. Unfortunately, everything in between felt like I was watching a Jackie Treehorn production starring Dirk Diggler. I think this movie could easily be remade with a modest budget, Tier 2 character actors, and an updated script. I will say Willem Dafoe did an excellent job. Wish I could have enjoyed this one more.

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Tyler P.

@TylerPhoenixMD Dec 10

In you’re face, raw, gritty action. If you like a good car chase this is the one for you.

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Jason H

Nov 2

This movie has my favorite car chase scene. Happy 40th Anniversary!

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tucker s

@tucker83014 Aug 28

A mildly amusing 11 minute car chase wedged in the middle of a really really horribly written and poorly produced film. No wonder this movie was free on Tubi. What a complete waste of time.

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Paul

Aug 10

Look at all the really positive reviews. Is it a forgotten masterpiece? No, not really. William Defoe is good, a cool threatening menace throughout and completely believable. John Pankow also does well but William Petersen... was perhaps badly directed. The script is full of cliches. The editing, apparently by a dozen people who never met, jumps about and struggles to provide a narrative. The story contains characters who just don't need to be there. The soundtrack has a number of good 80s tunes, but doesn't add much to the movie itself. Honestly, this would make a good two part episode of Miami Vice, but not a great one.

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William L

Jul 25

Amazing!!! A movie that lives up to its title. To Live & Die in L.A isn’t another 80s cheesy action film. Shows amazing visuals, amazing action scenes, one of the greatest car chase sequences, with a terrific soundtrack composed by artist Wang Chung that gives you the feeling of 80s nostalgia. A true blessing from director William Friedkin, with an all star cast. Don’t wanna miss out on this classic!!!

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William Friedkin

Director

William Petersen

Richard Chance

Willem Dafoe

Eric 'Rick' Masters

John Pankow

John Vukovich

Debra Feuer

Bianca Torres

John Turturro

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To Live and Die in L.A.: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Along with his new, straitlaced partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sets up a scheme to entrap Masters, resulting in the accidental death of an undercover officer. As Chance's desire for justice becomes an obsession, Vukovich questions the lawless methods he employs.

Director: William Friedkin
Producer: Irving H. Levin
Screenwriter: William Friedkin, Gerald Petievich
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Vestron Video
Production Co: New Century Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.6M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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