Rating: 
Summary: You're Working For Me Now, After That Chase Scene
Review: This is a terrific action flick with some well known stars who appeared to have a great time filming it. The plot is quite interesting, as are many details -- predominant among them, a portrayal of a means by which counterfeit currency is made -- and the story features the best movie chase scene of all time.There are, in the context of this film, some great lines. Secret Service agent John Chance (William Petersen, he of the bowest bow-legs in America) is an edge-of-the-envelope adrenalin addict who spends his spare time bungee-jumping off huge bridges. At one point, he casually asks his weeny partner, "Ever do any base jumping?" -- as a normal person might ask another, "Ever go bowling?" Chance is shacking up with a beautiful hooker who doubles as an exotic dancer and police intelligence source. Soon after they've enjoyed, uh, congress, she asks what he would do if she could no longer help him. "I'd have your parole revoked," he says bluntly. After she tells him she needs money, he says, "If you want bread, (enjoy intercourse with) a baker." You'll recognize most of the stars. There's a counterfeiter, his shady lawyer, a 'hood hit man, a captured mule (John Turturro in an early role; he gave a lot more to it, than it gave to him), some AC-DC beautiful girls, an idiot police boss, a weeny partner and... as I said... a chase scene you won't want to miss. Buy this one today. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the storytelling masterpieces - and not on DVD??!!
Review: This movie is one of the modern crime film classics. It is also a wonderful example of powerful and brave storytelling, focused, original idea behind the story and complex characters to make that story real and truthful. I hope copyright owners will realize -- rather sooner than later -- the value of this movie and makes a decision to release it on DVD.
Who ever claimed that film can't cheat the audience to identify with the wrong character?!
Who ever claimed that car chases usually appears to be boring artificially added action sequences without a storyline twist?!
Rating:
Summary: Saw it in theater & VHS - we need the DVD!
Review: Excellent work by Petersen & Dafoe! Best chase scene in movie history. Wang Chung's best work on the soundtrack. My favorite 80's movie. Now . . . give us the DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Still no DVD for one of the greatest crime movies in history
Review: This is Friedkin's masterpiece and one of the greatest crime movies of all time, still horribly underrated since its box-office (half-)failure in 1985. It's even more underrated than the (good) novel it's based upon, written by Gerald Petievich, a former FBI special agent. And it's so underrated that there's still no DVD of this film released, despite its high success in VHS. Frankly, I don't understand... Everything is surprising, everything is amazing in this movie: the first roles played by unknown - but far from bad - actors, the dark atmosphere of L.A., described as a decadent, upside down city, as fake as Masters' counterfeited bills, the haunting soundtrack composed by the Wang Chung band - hear 'City of the Angels', 'Dance all Days' and 'Wait' -, a strong editing by Bud Smith, a great photo by Robby "Paris, Texas", "Ghost Dog" Muller and of course a superb directing, despite the low budget. As underrated as the movie, William Petersen, in his first leading role (four years after an appearance in Michael Mann's first movie, "Thief"), is perfect as a 'kamikaze' cop, who breaks the law to revenge Jim Hart, his master, partner and friend. His confrontation with great Willem Dafoe, as the charismatic, cool, pervert gangster, is the most interesting aspect of the movie. After "To Live and Die in L.A.", Petersen played Will Graham, the very first 'profiler' in movie history (created by Thomas Harris in his cult novel, "Red Dragon"), facing Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter in Michael Mann's "Manhunter". And after that - and despite his starring status in blockbuster series 'CSI' -, nothing, not one single main part in movies... Can this be explainable? The car chase (the one of the 20th century!) is perfectly shot and edited, with plenty of malice, easily beating the ones in "Bullitt" and "The French Connection". But the most surprising film is that final sequence, showing the main character shot in the face... a unique plan in history. This is a masterpiece that frankly deserves a DVD release, more than all the zero movies released every year. I got it in VHS and I've been waiting for many years now. But we have to say that William Friedkin doesn't need such a release: the DVD of his "Exorcist", still among the top list about thirty years after the film came out in theaters, seems largely enough... Such a shame. All we can do is 'Wait', as the Wang Chung band singer says in the end...
Rating:
Summary: Why is this movie not on DVD yet?!
Review: In terms of the action movie genre, this movie really stands out. It is not what you would expect at all. In fact, the movie makes some choices that are completely antithetical to the genre (I'd mention them, but I wouldn't want to ruin the ending for anyone). I've seen lots of movies that are clearly inferior that came out around the same time get released on DVD. So, it's really surprising that this movie isn't available on DVD yet. I hope it's in the release pipeline. In the meantime, try your local video rental store, and see if you can rent a VHS copy. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: To Live and Die in L. A.
Review: For the last 100 years motion pictures have been defining and depicting the world we live in. Some movies epitomize the time and place they represent, and some movies are defined by their times. "The Thin Man" is New York City in the late 1930's. If I wished to show somebody what America was about in the mid 1980's I would show them three films. "Top Gun", because it shows who we hoped we were, Blade Runner because it shows who we were afraid that we were becoming and "To Live and Die in LA" because it shows how we really felt about a large segment of our society. William Friedkin directed this cops-and-robbers thriller about pair of secret service agents (William L. Peterson and John Pankow) on the trail of a brilliant counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe). The characters are cutting edge clichés played by actors, at the time largely unknown, who came close to perfection under Friedkin's able hand. There is a seedy, underbelly appeal to this film that ranks up with the best of the 1030' & 40' detective movies. There is an excellent story line with enough angles and turns to satisfy the most Machiavellian mind. Even the one brilliant bit of homage to the modern police drama, the obligatory "car chase scene" is handled with finesse and a twist that leaves you breathless even after the umpteenth time you've seen it. The score by Wang Chung gets directly to the point. From the opening scene of the rippling, wind whipped flags of a Presidential motorcade to the final, stark line "You're working for me now." there is no doubt that this is not a "nice" movie. The film however belongs to Robby Muller and his magic cameras. He shows up what we came to see, the LA that we never see on TV, the LA of the street hustler and the white, lower-middleclass junkie. There are no awe inspiring special effects, no laser light shows, no larger-that-life action sequences with kung foo fighters wiping out hoards of bad guys. There is just the reality of LA by the back door caught on film by a master craftsman. Here is cinematography that holds your eye, even when you wish that you could look away. "To Live and Die in L. A." is breath taking and exciting, hard and mean and too real. I love this film. It takes "Miami Vice" the next step into reality.
Rating:
Summary: Where's The DVD?????
Review: A stunning line-up of stars in their early years and simply the best chase scene ever filmed! A great story, great action, great acting, and great soundtrack! Why this is not available on DVD is both annoying and truely criminal!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: LIVE AND DIE IS LIVELY
Review: LONG BEFORE T.V.S POPULAR BUT PREDICTABLE 'C.S.I.' WILLIAM PETERSON LIT UP THE BIG SCREEN IN A FEW FILMS. THIS WAS BY FAR THE BEST OF THE LOT.
PETERSON PLAYS AN AGGRESSIVE, ADRENLINE JUNKIE SECRET SERVICE AGENT WHO LIKES TO TAKE CHANCES. HIS HOBBIES INCLUDE BUNJI JUMPING AND BLACKMAILING FEMALE SNITCHES.
HIS MENTOR A RETIRING AGENT IS KILLED WORKING A 'FUNNY MONEY' CASE AND PETERSON SETS OUT TO TAKE DOWN THE BAD GUY.
WHEN THE FED CANT GET HIS BOSS TO FRONT REAL CASH FOR A COUNTERFEIT BUY HE OPTS TO CROSS THE LINE AND ROB A THOUGHT TO BE CROOK WHO IS CARRYING BIG TIME FUNDS.
THE CROOK TURNS OUT TO BE ANOTHER UNDERCOVER FED WHO IS BEING SHADOWED BY FELLOW AGENTS. BULLETS FLY AND THE U.C. IS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BUT OUR ANTAGONIST GETS AWAY WITH THE MONEY AFTER A PULSE POUNDING CAR CHASE THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST SINCE 'BULLITT.'
PETERSONS GUN SHY PARTNER WANTS NO MORE OF IT AND IS HAUNTED BY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
THE PARTNER THOUGH WINDS UP GOING ALONG AND WE SEE HOW HE TRANSITIONS FROM A DO GOODER HONEST COP TO A RENEGADE LIKE HIS OBSESSED BROTHER WITH A BADGE.
THIS IS A FAST PACED GO GETTER OF A FILM WITH A SURPRISE ENDING.
SOME OF THE SUPPORTING CAST DROPS THE BALL IN PLACES BUT ALL THINGS CONSIDERED IT IS AN ABOVE AVERAGE FLICK.
Rating:
Summary: Stylish, fast-paced crime drama
Review: This was, as another reviewer said, one of the best films made in the decade of the 80's. Why this one has not yet made it to DVD is beyond me (particularly given some of the other trash we get the privilege to buy every day). Inexplicably, it is even out of stock on VHS! In a nutshell, it is the story of a young U.,S. Secret Service agent, whose partner gets killed by a master counterfeiter, and the chase to payback. I don't know how realistic it actually is, but the scenes with Willem Dafoe actually creating his counterfeit money are very well done. It is as if this is the way to do it. This gives the movie more than an edge, but a incredibly realistic feel. Ably directed by William Friedkin. I guess someone challenged him to do a more harrowing chase scene that he did in The French Connection. He starts with a short O.J.-like (from his Hertz days, that is)chase through LAX (ending with a bit of humor in the bathroom as Secret Service agents have the drop on the bad guy, awhile the L.A.P.D. has the drop on the Agents, and a citizen shows saying he showed up just to relieve himself). Then, he really outdid himself and came close with his chase through the Los Angeles rush hour highways (yeah, I know it is an oxymoron), ending up going the wrong way on a freeway. It is a rather bleak look at cops and robbers (aren't they all?), with the Federales and the lawyers, and the crooks, and the inmates and the informants all working at their contrary purposes. Incredibly violent (like when the first Secret Service agent gets shotgunned by the bad guys). As noted, a great soundtrack by Wang Chung. Great early performances by Dafoe, William Peterson, John Turturro, and a host of others we now see with regularity. But the bottom line is one man chasing another, doing everything to get the job done.
Another reviewer was correct, don't expect to sit back and just enjoy this flick. It WILL keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating:
Summary: 6 Stars or more. Great film
Review: Live & Die in LA is an excellent movie. It does not follow the standard Hollywood formula which is why it is so outstanding. Williams Friedkin cast two relatively unknown but excellent actors as the main characters which makes it even better. The movie grabs you because these actors make it all the more real. This is not Arnold, Matt Damon or Ben Affleck preening on screen - these guys are real actors. These are average guys with a crummy job and you really hope things are going to turn out for them while you are watching the film. There is also nothing glamorous about their shi**y job in a horrible town with very little upside. LA is a great place if you are pulling down a couple million in the movies as a major star but for the masses it is a pretty lousy place to live. You just know that no matter what happens, the good guys are gonna get [...] in LA as you watch the film. The soundtrack by Wang Chung is excellent. I was never a huge fan but they did a great job on this soundtrack. The acting, action, photography and atmosphere are great. I am really pleased to see William Peterson doing well on his TV show because he is a damn damn good actor. My only complaint is I failed to buy the VHS, there is no DVD and you cannot find the movie to rent it. There are so many bad movies out there and it is a crime when a really great movie like this is unavailable. An excellent film.
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