William Friedkin has had a scattered career. For every French Connection he made, he also made Jade. To Live and Die in LA is somewhere in between. On one hand, there is a great cat and mouse battle between the secret service and a counterfeitor. The performances are very good in this film. The biggest gripe I have about the film is that it has an unpleasant tone. Though the performances are good, the character of William Petersen is unlikable that his fate comes as no surprise to the audience. This is something that didn't happen to Gene Hackman in The French Connection. Whatever you think of Popeye Doyle, you did root for him. Not in this movie. But since William Dafoe's character isn't much better, you end up with two bad guys in the end. Overall, stylishly made but somewhat offputting. 7/10
Review of To Live and Die in L.A.
