To Live and Die in L.A.

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Henry D @RT58075727 Mar 11 The picture quality was excellent. It looked great throughout, and some of the cinematography was striking. The synthesized drum-heavy score was hard to listen to, though it was certainly appropriate for the era. The script and acting sometimes felt like a parody of a bad cop movie. As Lorna said, "It’s a period piece." It was fun to see Willem Dafoe and John Turturro so early in their careers. See more Jsmes M @Manic314 Mar 10 Slick and stylish, this is easily the best action/crime thriller of the entire 1980's and one of the best of all time. Watching it in 2026 only makes it better, as viewed through the lens of nostalgia for the neon saturated decade that was the 80's- as the time is so en vogue at the moment thanks to STRANGER THINGS. TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is a snapshot of the mid 80's and captures it's pastel excess perfectly. From the thumping Wang Chung soundtrack that fits over the action so well, to the wardrobe choices, the artwork that decorates each scene, down to the dialogue spoken, and the glitzy imagery of violence and greed depicted. A career best for William L. Peterson (MAN HUNTER, CSI VEGAS) and a showcase of prime mid 80's Willem Dafoe (who is a treat and steals absolutely every scene he's in). This is another total success from Billy Friedkin and although it may be empty calories ,boy are they fun to consume! An all time personal favorite. 9 out of 10. See more Tim L @Timsolabim Mar 7 What a stinker. Yeah sure it feels dated in 2026, but this loser cop is infuriating to watch fail time after time. He's such a dope! One of the most boring car chases ever. And the bad guy seems so inconsequential. He never feels important enough to go digging in garbage for. And that cop was an idiot too. Yeah let's not check if the bad guys are even home before we go dumpster diving. 2 hours I'll never get back. See more David H @dhannon_pdx Dec 26 I am not sure why the reviews are so high, especially the reviews recently posted. Frankly, the movie was dated, disjointed, and disorganized (sorry, I love alliteration). The car chase and climactic scenes are pretty solid, as well as the opening that gets the story rolling. Unfortunately, everything in between felt like I was watching a Jackie Treehorn production starring Dirk Diggler. I think this movie could easily be remade with a modest budget, Tier 2 character actors, and an updated script. I will say Willem Dafoe did an excellent job. Wish I could have enjoyed this one more. See more Tyler P. @TylerPhoenixMD Dec 10 In you’re face, raw, gritty action. If you like a good car chase this is the one for you. See more Jason H @RT50328122 Nov 2 This movie has my favorite car chase scene. Happy 40th Anniversary! See more Read all reviews

To Live and Die in L.A.

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