TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is a gritty crime thriller I haven't seen until now. I say it is one of the late director William Friedkin's best movies. It is actor William Peterson's first starring role and you also get a great early performance from Williem Dafoe too. It has a few twists and even a car chase scene that is one of the best ever featured in a movie. The score by Wang Chung adds to the gritty tone of the movie from the characters to the cinematography. William Peterson stars as Federal agent Richard Chance of the Secret Service who goes on a quest for revenge to catch a murderous counterfeiter (Dafoe) responsible for the death of Chance's partner. Chance becomes more morally ambiguous as he starts to bend the rules in catch his partner's killer. Will his obsession destroy him?

SPECIAL FEATURES:
The extras are a combination of extras that appeared on the original MGM DVD and ones produced for the Shout Factory Blu-ray. The alternate ending is a case of the director deliberately making a bad ending so he could get the ending he originally shot.

New 4K and HD Master From a 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative
Audio Commentary by Director William Friedkin

TAKING A CHANCE: Interview with Actor William Petersen (20:41)
RENAISSANCE WOMAN IN L.A.: Interview with Actress Debra Feuer (14:55)
DOCTOR FOR A DAY: Interview with Actor Dwier Brown (8:52)
SO IN PHASE: SCORING TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.- Interview with Composers Wang Chung (12:43)
WRONG WAY- THE STUNTS OF TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.: Interview with Stunt Coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker (35:38)
COUNTERFEIT WORLD- THE MAKING OF TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. Documentary (29:49)
Deleted Scene and Alternate Ending with Introductions (13:06)

Radio Spot
Theatrical Trailer

FINAL ANALYSIS: TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is a 1980s crime classic. It is one of Friedkin's best movies as a director with a great performance from William Peterson. Kino Lorber has put together a wonderful 4K/ Blu-ray combo with great extras. Highly Recommended.

This review is ©12-31-2023 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com