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Features: DVD, Special Edition, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Widescreen, English, French, Spanish, Subtitled
In director William Friedkin's supercharged thriller, William L. Petersen plays a "hot dog" special agent of the Secret Service who's out to arrest and convict an arrogant counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe) who has eluded the law for years and who flaunts his success. Dafoe has been asking for a down payment on a sale of bogus bills, but the amount is larger than the secret agent can authorize Petersen, undercover, to pay to entrap Dafoe in a "sting" operation. Petersen is forced to set up a dangerous plan to steal the advance money from another crook (John Turturro) and use it to buy bogus bills and bust the counterfeiter. As the film winds to its dark and exciting resolution, the distinction between the pursuing law enforcers and the pursued criminals will continue to blur.
"Searing action. Nonstop powerful... a superbly realized film." The Hollywood Reporter
"Friedkin's finest hour." The Hollywood Examiner
Editor's Note
When a notorious, highly sophisticated counterfeiter murders his partner, Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William Petersen) launches a furious vendetta to capture the man responsible. But master counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe) is always just one step ahead of Chance in William Friedkin's thrilling, suspenseful crime drama. With violent shoot-outs and a turbulent chase scene reminiscent of Friedkin's own THE FRENCH CONNECTION, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. broke with tradition by making the ostensible hero as morally reprehensible as the villain he pursues. Clashing with bureaucratic obstacles, Chance is forced to break the rules in order to procure cash for a sting operation, but the risks he takes snowball into an avalanche of violence and moral repercussions, leading to a morally ambiguous cul-de-sac from which there may be no return.
Plot Summary
Secret Service agent Richard Chance will do anything--whether legal or not--to nail the creep who murdered his partner. Then he gets a lead on the killer...but the wily criminal is smooth enough to keep eluding capture.
| Features | Interactive Menus | | Photo Gallery | | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French | | Scene Selection | | Alternate Endings | | Counterfeit World: The Making of To Live And Die In L.A. | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1; French Stereo Surround; Spanish Mono | | Director Commentary | | Deleted Scenes |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 6/22/2004 |
| Running Time: 116 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1985 | | Catalog ID: 1004604 | | UPC: 00027616886453 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Memorable Quotes| "Why are you running?"----John Vukovich (John Pankow)|"Because you're chasing me!"----Criminal |
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is Friedkin at his glossiest....It's the car chases and shoot-outs and eye-catching settings that are truly the heart of the matter." 11/01/1985 p.C18Variety
"...Engrossing....Extremely well cast....Everyone here seems capable of deception and moral duplicity, and then live up to those expectations..." 10/30/1985 Film Comment
"...One of the great underrated films of the Eighties....A movie with a vision..." Entertainment Weekly
"...Vibrant....It's a kick to watch a lanky, fresh-faced Petersen..." 12/05/2003 p.76 USA Today
"[With] kinetic action scenes....Three new faces made significant early impressions..." 12/12/2003 p.5E Uncut
"Ridiculously entertaining car chase and all....The movie benefits from LA shimmer..." 11/01/2004 p.158 |
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