Co-written and directed by once dependable Hollywood director William Friedkin, 'To Live and Die in L. A.' is the kind of movie that sinks or swims by it's cast and chosen style. I say that because the story is semi-routine. A Secret Service agent who likes to play fast & loose with the rules tries to nail an eccentric counterfeiter who's responsible for the death of his partner who was days away from retirement.
William L. Petersen became most known to audiences for heading up the original and long running CSI television show, but he turned in a pair of great performances in long ago 80's films. 'Manhunter' and here in this as the crackerjack, risktaker Richard Chance. Willem Dafoe was a year away from his breakout role in 'Platoon' but he too turns in a devilishly good spin on not your typical bad guy. John Pankow as the new partner goes from uneasy, scared to a changed man. John Turturro plays a criminal, Dean Stockwell is a lawyer playing both sides and likable tough guy Steve James is here.
With a soundtrack from Wang Chung and numerous shots of LA, there's no denying the 80's atmosphere - almost a silent character - is ripe here. The moral spectrum the flick runs is unique, the cast is great and the style carries us through low spots in a somewhat predictable story. The ending to 'Live and Die in L. A.' is quite the sight too, but not in the way you might be expecting as it stays true to itself right until the very end.
William L. Petersen became most known to audiences for heading up the original and long running CSI television show, but he turned in a pair of great performances in long ago 80's films. 'Manhunter' and here in this as the crackerjack, risktaker Richard Chance. Willem Dafoe was a year away from his breakout role in 'Platoon' but he too turns in a devilishly good spin on not your typical bad guy. John Pankow as the new partner goes from uneasy, scared to a changed man. John Turturro plays a criminal, Dean Stockwell is a lawyer playing both sides and likable tough guy Steve James is here.
With a soundtrack from Wang Chung and numerous shots of LA, there's no denying the 80's atmosphere - almost a silent character - is ripe here. The moral spectrum the flick runs is unique, the cast is great and the style carries us through low spots in a somewhat predictable story. The ending to 'Live and Die in L. A.' is quite the sight too, but not in the way you might be expecting as it stays true to itself right until the very end.