I thoroughly enjoyed this film which exceeded my expectations from the reviews I had read. It is not overly violent for its 18 rating. The acting and characterisation are good and the soundtrack is terrific in a 1980s way. There are some absorbing scenes with Dafoe doing the counterfeiting and a top notch car chase towards the end. William Petersen as the lead is impressively gritty. There is also some tongue in cheek humour with for example a running chase in which the crook asks the cop why he is chasing him and the cop replies “because you are running away!’ The ending is a satisfying finale.
To Live and Die in L.A. is a sharp, cynical thriller where no one comes out clean. Friedkin ditches sentiment for style, pairing striking visuals with a pulsing Tangerine Dream soundtrack. The plot moves fast, driven by moral ambiguity and a sense that corruption spreads like wildfire. The car chase is a standout—almost as gripping as The French Connection—and the decision to kill off the lead mid-film is bold and unsentimental. As a bridge between classic noir and modern thrillers, it’s tense, stylish, and oddly prescient. In this world, survival means faking it better than everyone else.