To Live and Die In LA (1986)

Plot: A Secret Service agent vows revenge against the Criminal kingpin who killed his partner
Stars: William Dafoe, William Peterson, John Pankow

In 1986 the film failed to connect with a mainstream audience and did modest business.  Its seems people thought it vulgar, souless and mechanical.  

And I  agree. I found it unoriginal, overly long, overly familiar, & often unbelievable. It’s the sort of action movie where the Heroes drive 50 MPH  the wrong way on a crowded freeway and never get a scratch. Or get shot at with a zillion bullets, all of which miss, while the soundtrack pounds away.

At the 30 minute mark,  I  told my wife "Hey, this is just like an episode of  Miami Vice"  And whatta y'know?  Michael Mann agreed, since he sued Friedkin for plagiarism.

The movie does have some good points.

 Dafoe is a good villain. The chases and action scenes are well executed, full of  absurdity and adrenaline. And we get some clever lines here and there.

Best Line:  That doesn't mean I'm gonna roll over and play informer. If you're looking for a pigeon, go to the park.

But the movie is underwritten, and slackly directed.

It more or less dies when people stop shooting and chasing each other.  And I kept hitting the FF button, because I either knew what was going to happen, or nothing was happening. And the characters are clichés. 

Cardboard Characters

William Peterson, the vengeful cop, isn’t really given a background or character. He’s a trope. “Plays by his own rules” “Will do anything to win” . So is his partner: he's the cop with ethics, who expresses doubts, but ultimately goes along. Dafoe is also a familiar trope: the suave ruthless villain who uses everyone, is an expert crook, drives a great car, has a great house, knows great art, and has a beautiful girlfriend. The women? Just ciphers there to be eye candy or engage in sex.  

Most Surprising Supporting Actor

Jane Leeves, aka Daphne Moon, shows up as one of the villains beautiful girlfriends!

At 2 hours, the movie doesn’t have enough plot to fill the time

So, Friedkin pads out the movie with some rather odd scenes. For example:

• A half-naked Dafoe working out and lifting weights
• Flashy night club dance scenes

• Our hero bungee jumping to the cheers of onlookers

• An irrelevant prologue about Arab terrorist trying to assassinate the President.
• A  meaningless showdown between Dafoe and a black hit man who’s botched the job.

What the Critics Said:
Not surprisingly, To Live and Die in L.A. received mixed reviews. 

The Washington Post said: "To Live and Die in L.A. will live briefly and die quickly in L.A., where God hath no wrath like a studio executive with bad grosses. Then again, perhaps it's unfair to hold this overheated and recklessly violent movie to the high standard established by Starsky and Hutch.” 

Time magazine:  "The movis has a brutal, bloated car-chase sequence pilfered from Friedkin's nifty The French Connection, - but its a fetid movie hybrid: Miami Vile.”