To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

01/11/1985 (US)•Crime, Thriller, Action•1h 56m

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A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode.

Overview

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.

Top Billed Cast

William Petersen
Richard Chance
Willem Dafoe
Rick Masters
John Pankow
John Vukovich
Debra Feuer
Bianca Torres
John Turturro
Carl Cody
Dean Stockwell
Bob Grimes
Darlanne Fluegel
Ruth Lanier
Michael Greene
Jim Hart
Steve James
Jeff Rice

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Reviews 1

A review by griggs79

8.0

Written by griggs79 on Jun 23, 2025

_To Live and Die in L.A._ is a sharp, cynical thriller where style trumps sentiment. Friedkin pairs bold visuals with a pulsing Tangerine Dream score, driving a fast, morally murky plot. Corruption spreads, rules bend, and no one stays clean. The car chase is a highlight—second only to _The French Connection_. Boldly killing off the lead mid-film, it bridges classic noir and modern thrillers. In this world, survival means faking it better than the rest.