Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
1985 Movie
Dir. William Friedkin · United States of America · Arabic, English
Complicated coppers chase a charming counterfeit in this lean thriller
If I told you this was a crime thriller from the ‘80s, you’d probably conjure cheesy music, title cards, big hair, unearned machismo, and a Miami Vice-esque vibe. You wouldn’t be completely far off. To Live and Die in LA, directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist) has some of those, but they don’t define the movie. Starring some familiar faces (including Willem Dafoe and John Turturo), the LA-set thriller is lean and fast-paced. While some films of the era might be padded with fillers to evoke machismo and cool, this one is primarily interested in the hunt and its complicated characters. It’s probably why it’s one of the few that have stood the test of time.
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.
"Engrossing and diverting enough on a moment-to-moment basis but is overtooled."
— Variety Staff
A secret service agent will stop at nothing to avenge his partner, who was murdered by a counterfeiter at large.
Throwing out “groovy” and “far out” ages these guys way more than any mustache or wrinkle could.
Miami Vice, but less cheesy.
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
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