When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters.
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Nate H. reviewed To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Review from the comment
Friedkin has crafted a great modern noir here with classic elements of the genre. You have an on the edge detective played by William Petersen, a smooth baddie counterfeiter played by Willem Defoe, and a solid arc following the former's obsessive chase of the latter.
There are some dated action moments (cue 80s slow motion here) but there is also a mid-film chase and an ending that should be studied by modern day auteurs. My main concern with To Live and Die in L.A. is the soundtrack overseen by Wang Chung. It does not hold up well and actually, I don't think I ever would have liked it in the first place. But either way, the frantic 80s sound just sounds corny now and absolutely takes away from the overall experience. But this is still a great crime piece and one to take notes on.
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