TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.

US, 1985, 116 minutes, Colour.
Willem Dafoe, William Peterson, John Pankow, John Turturro, Dean Stockwell, Robert Downey Jr, Darlanne Fluegel, Michael Greene.
Directed by William Friedkin.

To Live and Die in L.A. is a film by William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist). It is a very tough look at U.S. agents working in Los Angeles for security and uncovering a counterfeit note ring. The film is violent, has unsympathetic characters, presents a squalid picture of Los Angeles. It also presents a grim picture of law enforcers, individualists dedicated to the law -but just as dedicated and relentless as the criminals they pursue. They seem also to be ruthless, exploiters - and can also be corrupted.

The film resembles many of the television series of the '80s, especially Miami Vice, with its emphasis on action and visual style. Friedkin is excellent with his visuals, has a contemporary music score for atmosphere. There is a long and effective carchase which rivals the celebrated car chase in his French Connection.

Interesting, but grim and depressing.

1. Audience enjoyment of police thrillers? Agents and law enforcement? Tough and violent style? Contemporary portrait of Los Angeles?

2. Locations, the city of Los Angeles and its environment, the countryside round about? Atmosphere? The musical score, its beat and mood, the mood and beat of the city?

3. The film's use of violence? Visual impact? Special effects? Stunts? The car chase and its speed, pacing, excitement?

4. The prologue about the President and the terrorists, the role of security guards,,crises, dangers, effective saving of lives? Pace and interest? An indication of themes to come? The individuals, friendships, the letting off steam, retiring, plans and fishing, the older man's investigation, scouting out the counterfeit headquarters, his death?

5. The focus on Eric Masters, his aunt, burning the painting, the long attention to detail for his preparing the notes for printing? His henchmen? Distribution? Wealth? Contacts and covers? His girlfriend and her helping him? The fence and his double-dealing? Contact with paid killers? Influence in prison? Contact with fashionable lawyers? Protection, a man of vengeance?

6. The character of Masters: as brutal, in himself, dedicated to his work, girlfriend and the sleazy show, sleazy surroundings, her investigating,, his doing deals in fashionable athletic clubs, his going to prison to see his courier, threats, hiring the assassin and his pontrol over the assassin, the fight with the negroes and their deaths, doing a deal with the agents without knowing it, yet his suspicions, the build-up,, the confrontation and the shbot-out, his burning his warehouse, his being burnt to death? An ugly portrait of an ugly criminal?

7. Chance and his work as a security guard, friendship, the importance of the sequence of his diving off the bridge and the exhilaration of being caught up? Its symbol of his attitudes towards his work? The relationship with the girl and his hold over her because of parole', using her for sex, information?, His new partner and hit wariness, influencing him, controlling him? His relentlessness against Masters? The investigations, the stake-out in the monastery, the pressures, the airport catching of the courier, his going to jail, interrogations, visiting him, his getting him out and his being tricked in the hospital, the plan about the train and the money, his using it to set up Masters, the interviews with Masters, the car chase and the deaths, his avoiding accountability, build-up to catching Masters, the confrontation, the suddenness and unexpectedness of his death? An unsympathetic law enforcement agent? His mistakes, his attitudes of certainty? His sudden death and the end of everything?

8. The contrast with Johnny, his background, wanting to be a partner, stances and shifting ground, helping in the investigations, the stakeout, the airport, joining in the set-up against Masters, involvement at the railway station, driving the car and the chase, his going to see Masters' lawyer to extricate himself, the possibility of deals, his not giving information against his partner, his being caught, following Masters, the fight? His return to the girl and his taking over Chance's operation? His being corrupted, hardened?

9. The courier, his work at the airport, going to jail, the visit, the murder attempt, his alleged willingness to testify, his shrewd escape from the hospital, being caught by Chance?

10. The lawyer and his money, smooth, the deals with Masters, talking with Johnny, playing each side?

11. The criminals of Los Angeles? masters' henchmen, the double-dealer who was killed? The sleazy nightspots of Los Angeles? The ghettos?

12. Themes of law and order? To what purpose? At what cost?