{"id":2206,"date":"2007-02-01T13:16:58","date_gmt":"2007-02-01T20:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2206"},"modified":"2020-12-31T21:10:50","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T04:10:50","slug":"to-live-and-die-in-la-1985","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2206","title":{"rendered":"To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Buddy, you&#8217;re in the wrong place at the wrong time.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Poster.jpg 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Los Angeles secret agent (William L. Petersen) swears to avenge the death of his partner (Michael Greene) by capturing notorious counterfeiter Eric &#8220;Rick&#8221; Masters (Willem Dafoe).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cat-and-Mouse<\/li>\n<li>Counterfeiting<\/li>\n<li>Dean Stockwell Films<\/li>\n<li>Los Angeles<\/li>\n<li>Police<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Thieves and Criminals<\/li>\n<li>William Friedkin Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nFew films define the 1980s as decisively as William Friedkin&#8217;s <em>To Live and Die in L.A.<\/em>: from its synthesized soundtrack to its outlandish fashion sensibilities, every aspect of the film evokes flashbacks to this notorious decade of questionable taste. Stylistic issues aside, however, the film remains a top-notch thriller, one which follows a familiar storyline trope &#8212; cop seeks revenge for his dead partner &#8212; but is executed with panache and skill. As noted below, Friedkin (ably assisted by cinematographer Robby Muller) makes excellent use of L.A.&#8217;s grittier environs, and the lengthy freeway car chase is a worthy follow-up to the infamous chase scene in his earlier cop classic, <em>The French Connection<\/em> (1971). Performance-wise, stage-actor Petersen isn&#8217;t all that charismatic or memorable in the lead role, but he does a fine job showing his character&#8217;s moral struggle; however, it&#8217;s Dafoe&#8217;s cold-hearted criminal who truly shines here, oozing greed and amorality at every turn.\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Willem Dafoe as Petersen&#8217;s personal nemesis<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Dafoe.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Dafoe.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2210\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A fascinating glimpse at high-tech counterfeiting<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Counterfeit.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Counterfeit.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2209\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Excellent use of realistic L.A. cityscapes, streets, and alleys<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Alley-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A truly exciting freeway car chase<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/To-Live-and-Die-in-L.A.-Freeway-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The &#8220;very &#8217;80s&#8221; synthesized soundtrack by Wang Chung<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0090180\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1985\/11\/01\/movies\/screen-from-friedkin.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/to-live-and-die-in-la-1985\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/79531.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Buddy, you&#8217;re in the wrong place at the wrong time.&#8221; Synopsis: A Los Angeles secret agent (William L. Petersen) swears to avenge the death of his partner (Michael Greene) by capturing notorious counterfeiter Eric &#8220;Rick&#8221; Masters (Willem Dafoe). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cat-and-Mouse Counterfeiting Dean Stockwell Films Los Angeles Police Revenge Thieves and Criminals William Friedkin Films Review: Few films define the 1980s as decisively as William Friedkin&#8217;s To Live and Die in L.A.: from its synthesized soundtrack to&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2206\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2206"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60857,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206\/revisions\/60857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}