Review of To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) by Stephen C — 19 Mar 2012
Friedkin has had a spotty career to say the least ,but this film is one of his best ,and is also one of the best action thrillers of the 1980s.
The cast was at that time largely unknown but all of them would find later fame in film and TV.
Willem Dafoe plays Rick Masters Uber cool forger who has never bben caught and will kill anyone who could get him caught.
William Petersen is equally dangerous as Richard Chance an apt name for this loose canon of a secret service man who will do anything to bag Rick Masters even if it means breaking every law in the book.
Dafoe and Petersen are both excellent in early roles here and Friedkin pits their wits the only way he knows how with plenty of violence and another brilliant car chase ,this time involving a chase the wrong way up a freeway.
The supporting cast are all excellent most notably Dean Stockwell as Masters oily lawyer and John Pankow as Petersens new partner.
A fab film from a master director and one of the best films of the 80s.
This review of To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) was written by Stephen C on 19 Mar 2012.
To Live and Die in L.A. has generally received very positive reviews.
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