To Live and Die in LA

Scott F

Scott F

Pug Life
Did a search, couldn't find anything, so I'm starting a new thread on an old film.

I had not seen this movie since I was a kid. It popped up on one of the HD stations in December and I DVR'd it. Suffice it to say, I have watched this film many times since. The HD transfer looks BRILLIANT.

The film itself, any other fans here? To me, it just personifies the 80's. The look of the film, the wardrobe, the mild nudity, and of course, the soundtrack. Wang Chung absolutely NAILS the vibe of this film. The opening credits & song are perfect in setting the stage for the story to follow. (Even the closing credits are great: Just a camera aimed forward while a car drives through an industrial section of LA)

The plot itself sucks you in. The lines are blurred, the good guys do things that are morally wrong....the bad guy (Willem DaFoe) is "cool". And there is an ending (which I won't give away) that comes out of left field. And of course, one of the coolest car chase sequences I've ever seen.

It's great to see a film from an era before excessive cuts, CGI and over the top motion graphics were prevalent in Hollywood. It's just a bare-bones movie with a great story.

Is this movie heading for Blu Ray release in the US? It is available right now as a Japanese import.
 
I may have oversold it in my original post. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the film, but it's no Citizen Kane. I think I'm most intrigued with the "vibe" and the 80's culture that emanates from it.

It's got problems left & right (the script/plot, acting) But who cares? It's a fun movie. Dark at times, but fun. There is a great BTS on the DVD with William Friedkin. It really sheds some light on the making of To Live and Die in LA. Lots of fun trivia and great interviews.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
I may have oversold it in my original post. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the film, but it's no Citizen Kane. I think I'm most intrigued with the "vibe" and the 80's culture that emanates from it.
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Same here. A good film and an interesting but very different companion piece to Friedkin's French Connection.

The car chase in this one is great too. I heard that for some of it they filmed without a permit. Crazy if true.

Thinking of this film makes me wish that the recent Miami Vice remake would've been set in the 80's instead of the present day.
 
Nektonic said:
I heard that for some of it they filmed without a permit. Crazy if true.
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In the interviews William Petersen said that it was a very stripped-down crew used for that scene. Most of the film was shot already. That whole car chase has a very DIY feel to it, so I wouldn't be surprised if they "bent" a few rules. :)

One thing you may have noticed when they get on the highway....for whatever reason the traffic is going in the opposite direction. So it looks like merry old England, not the good ol' US, if that makes any sense. They must have had to film it that way for one reason or another. Also when the 18 wheeler jack-knives, you can see a tow truck is attached to the rear end, pulling it along. Movie magic nonetheless!
 
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