Part of A Tribute to William Friedkin
Federal agent Richard Chance (William Petersen) has a score to settle, and he’s done 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 (Willem Dafoe) by any means necessary. But as the stakes grow higher, will Chance’s dark obsession with vengeance destroy him? Full of style and grit, this raw tale of corruption and revenge boasts one of the most harrowing car chases ever caught on film and a shockingly explosive ending. Friedkin crafted the absolutely perfect, cool ‘80s neo-noir with this riveting, amped-up cat and mouse game featuring a fantastic supporting cast including John Turturro and Dean Stockwell and cinematography by Robby Müller (PARIS, TEXAS) that captures the City of Angels from the trendy elegance of Rodeo Drive to the seedy, neon glow of Hollywood.
“William Friedkin was making sleek, sensational, ice-cold thrillers long before rock videos and ''Miami Vice'' were fashionable. And he couldn't be more in his element now that they are. TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is Mr. Friedkin at his glossiest…” —Janet Maslin, New York Times (Nov 1, 1985) “It feels like a transmission from a different planet. TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is so of its time that you can only be captivated by it.” —Bilge Ebiri, Village Voice “Cannily blends quasi-documentary procedural realism with an unpredictable modernist sensibility. The story is succinct in its pulpy purity… But the method of its telling zigzags into unexpected tangents and bravura set pieces.” —Budd Wilkins, Slant Magazine
