Movie review - "To Live and Die in LA" (1985) ***

A flop when released this action film has earned a cult in recent years. Seemingly an attempt by director William Friedkin to create a more commercial film - the basic story is about a secret service agent (William Petersen) who seeks to avenge the death of his partner (who actually says "I'm too old for this shit" and dies two days before retirement) at the hands of a nasty counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe). However, Friedkin can't help himself - he makes Petersen a prick who blackmails a former prison girl into helping him, Petersen goes overboard with tactics. The story seems simple enough but keeps going off on tangents - for instance, Petersen needs $30,000 to do a "sting" on Dafoe... but the govt won't give it to him... so he decides to rob a crook... which results in a massive car chase... then he gets the money. Then there's a plot where Petersen catches a John Turturro... Dafoe tries to kill Turturoo.. Petersen does a deal with Turturro and gets him out of gaol... He escapes... Is recaptured. This sort of thing feels like things that realistically happen, but it sort of clashes with the stylised way the film is shot. There are two moments of real surprise: the identity of the person whom Petersen "robs" and the fate of Petersen. The second half of the film is more to do with Petersen's partner, played by John Pankow, who was on "Mad About You". In fact the film is full of people before they became famous: Petersen, Dafoe, John Turturro. Petersen has a real presence, odd and slightly off kilter, like he was in Manhunter - although at times when he struts around in jeans and sunglasses it does make you laugh. Plenty of style - it feels very Miami Vice with flashy looks of LA and designer clothes and fashion; beautiful photography. A bit confusing in places - what is the thing with the female characters at the end? Both of them? The car chase deserves its reputation - Petersen drives into on coming traffic on the LA freeway! The music was by Wang Chung - you can hear 'Dance Hall Days' on the soundtrack.