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To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
1 November 1985 (USA)
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Tagline:
The director of "The French Connection" is on the streets again! more
Plot:
A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
'Star Trek' Boldly Goes, Brüno Gets Sensational And More In The DVD Report For November 17
(From MTV Movies Blog. 17 November 2009, 3:46 PM, PST)
Locarno 09: Review of Takeshi Koike's high octane anime Redline
(From QuietEarth. 17 August 2009, 12:03 PM, PDT)
(From MTV Movies Blog. 17 November 2009, 3:46 PM, PST)
Locarno 09: Review of Takeshi Koike's high octane anime Redline
(From QuietEarth. 17 August 2009, 12:03 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Losers, all!
more (175 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | William Petersen | ... | Richard Chance (as William L. Petersen) |
 | Willem Dafoe | ... | Eric 'Rick' Masters |
 | John Pankow | ... | John Vukovich |
| Debra Feuer | ... | Bianca Torres |
 | John Turturro | ... | Carl Cody |
 | Darlanne Fluegel | ... | Ruth Lanier |
| Dean Stockwell | ... | Bob Grimes |
 | Steve James | ... | Jeff Rice |
 | Robert Downey Sr. | ... | Thomas Bateman (as Robert Downey) |
| Michael Greene | ... | Jim Hart |
 | Christopher Allport | ... | Max Waxman |
| Jack Hoar | ... | Jack |
| Valentin de Vargas | ... | Judge Filo Cedillo (as Val DeVargas) |
| Dwier Brown | ... | Doctor |
| Michael Chong | ... | Thomas Ling |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min | Germany:101 min (TV version)
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (cut) |
Finland:K-18 (uncut) |
Iceland:16 |
Argentina:18 |
Singapore:PG (cut) |
Singapore:M18 |
USA:R (certificate #27848) |
Australia:R |
France:-12 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 |
West Germany:16 |
Norway:18 (video premiere) (1987) |
Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
After seeing the film, Michael Mann sued William Friedkin for plagiarism. He accused Friedkin of stealing the entire concept of "Miami Vice" (1984) and lost the lawsuit.
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Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: In the original 1985 theater release, there was a large shadow of the crew and equipment visible on the ground as John Vukovich approaches the warehouse with Chinese character.
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Quotes:
[Richard Chance gets the judge's authorization to hold Carl Cody]
Judge Filo Cedillo: If this prisoner escapes from custody, I'll make you testify in open court about how he made a fool out of you.
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Judge Filo Cedillo: If this prisoner escapes from custody, I'll make you testify in open court about how he made a fool out of you.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Psych: High Top Fade Out (#4.7)" (2009)
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Soundtrack:
The Conductor Wore Black
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (175 total)
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Despite a confusing (or irrelevant?) opening segment, To Live and Die in L.A. is an authentic and somewhat disturbing crime film. In fact, some of the film is so harrowing and caustic it evokes almost horror-like inspiration. As you might have heard by now, it involves one of the finest car chase scenes ever put to film.
The film follows a couple of Secret Service agents for the National Treasury as they try to track down a counterfeiter. As the movie rolls on, it becomes clear that these agents are pretty shady in the way they gleam information and that the ties between crime and justice are actually quite close. I know, it sounds like an obvious plot, but the editing, pacing, characters and twists are all pretty unexpected or original. It is not nearly as cliché as it sounds.
The downsides to the movie could be some of the aesthetic choices: the neon colors are sweet (I think) but some of the soundtrack is just too grating. You REALLY feel like you're hopped up on speed after hearing the main theme for too long. It's done by Wang Chung, but I think Tangerine Dream would've created something much more provocative. Oh well. Also, I felt like one or two characters' stories were not really concluded properly. There was a minor hang-nail or two left at the end.
But all in all, this is a solid film. Very inspired, very dark, simultaneously exciting and depressing. Seriously, this movie is way more intensely real than anything Tarantino has tried to do. It may not actually be more violent per say, but the violence itself it much more effective and the social ties are far more believable. This junk is scary.