When it comes to 80s neo-noir, is their any finer example than William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in LA?
The context of its release is even more important, as the notorious director was chasing a hit after Sorcerer, Cruising and Deal of the Century proved to be commercial failures.
For context, it’s worth stating that Sorcerer and Cruising have become cult favourites in the intervening years.
To Live and Die in LA was Friedkin going back to his French Connection style, but this was a filmmaker who had some anger in him, and nihilism shows on screen with one of the great rug pulls of cinema history.
When his partner is murdered just days before retirement, Secret Service Agent Richard Chance (William Petersen) begins an obsessive hunt for his killer, counterfeiter and all-round psychopath Eric Masters, played with such verve by Willem Dafoe at his villainous best.
For its 4K presentation, Arrow once again have dug out all of the essential archival material, with an added collector’s booklet ideal for cinephiles.
The 4K restoration is slick, and while stating the obvious, the film has never looked better.
This is a no brainer, for fans or anyone curious this is an essential purchase and a film that deserves it’s time in the neon-soaked sun.
To Live and Die in LA is available on 4K from Arrow Video.
Bloody Flicks 