Few directors hit the extremes William Friedkin has in a film career.
Classic Friedkin cinema: “The Exorcist,” “The French Connection”
Classic Friedkin duds: “Deal of the Century,” “Jade.”
“To Live and Die in L.A.” never reached the former status, but that doesn’t diminish the film’s electric casting and gritty feel.
The film, out this week on Blu-ray in a two-disk set, even survives a dated soundtrack crafted by everyone’s favorite ’80s duo, Wang Chung.
“L.A.” stars William Petersen as Richard Chance, a fearless treasury agent out to bust a money counterfeiting ring led by a frustrated artist named Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe).
Chance just lost his partner to Masters’ goon squad, and the detective demands revenge.
Naturally, he’ll brush past police regulations to bring Masters down, a time honored cliche done justice here thanks to Friedkin’s eye for detail – and danger.
This L.A. isn’t gussied up for its extended close up. It’s an array of ugly buildings, garish decor and expansive, empty lands that define the city’s seedier side.
Some of the cliches decorating the film aren’t so easy to dismiss.
“L.A.” includes a few lines of dialogue so stiff, so cloying, it almost comes off as parody.
When Chance’s soon to be stiff partner complains, “I’m getting too old for this s*&^” audiences unfamiliar with the 1985 film will want to pull the ripcord.
That would be a mistake. Friedkin’s thriller includes a terrific villain in Masters – Dafoe brings the man’s artistic frustrations and egomania to technicolor life. The procedural part of the story is told in simple, effective fashion. At times, the movie feels like a ’70s movie in tone and presentation, assuming you look past the Me Decade fashions.
Petersen is a bit too pretty for the role, and his occasional use of colloquialisms like “amigo” feel as counterfeit as Masters’ creations. But his blazing intensity deserves kudos as does his ability to convey a soulless man willing to step on anyone, even his sometimes galpal, for vengeance.
Friedkin also unleashes a delirious car chase toward the end of the film, and you’d be hard pressed to find an equally stunning set piece today’s film world.
The Blu-ray presentation is precise and vibrant, with the ’80s color palette on full display. The two-disk set features a separate DVD copy of the film as well as a “making of” featurette, deleted scenes and an alternate ending that differs sharply from the original resolution.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I just recently saw this for the first time on DVD- highly entertaining, although rather cheesy and dated. I’m surprised you didn’t mention the now-famous car chase, which was fantastic.
JimmyC … consider it a mental hiccup … or just a plain, ol’ goof. I amended the review to include the killer car chase.
Fav Friedkin film: “Sorceror”. Based on “Wages of Fear” but still fun. They haven’t even released it in wide screen DVD. Bah!
The title track actually ages well, in the context of its supporting film, and yes – big up to the car chase scene: one of the best (still) ever filmed.
D.
It is a little dated but things from the 80’s don’t bother me since I grew up then. lol
I really like this film too. It does have its flaws but overall I think it works. I have the DVD but looking forward to getting it on Blu-ray.