Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

To Live and Die in L.A. Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 31, 2023

William Friedkin's "To Live and Die in L.A." (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by William Friedkin; archival program with William Petersen; archival program with Debra Feuer; archival documentary on the making of the film; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

L.A. noir is a made-up subgenre that exists only because several contemporary critics decided that they can use it to describe a rather large group of films with similar stylistic identities. I am unsure if the first of these critics to think of L.A. noir was French, but if it is proven that he was, I would not be surprised. After all, a French critic legitimized Soleil noir, another artificial subgenre, which has had quite a bit of traction as well. I do not like bringing up these subgenres, but I must concede that L.A. noir is very convenient to have because it does group together some quite interesting genre films.

The best of these genre films and the one that displays all the major qualities that are associated with L.A. noir is William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A.. Completed in 1985, To Live and Die in L.A. is a close relative of two iconic films, The Naked City and The French Connection, and boasts a special contemporary identity. It takes its authenticity very, very seriously, but it has an equally particular understanding of style as well. Proper use of location(s) is of utmost importance to it, too.

In an archival program that is included on this release, Friedkin discusses in great detail his desire to capture on film the flip side of L.A. without embellishing any parts of it. With a few minor adjustments, Friedkin’s summary easily could be used to describe what Jules Dassin did in 1948 with The Naked City, which is why in it the ambience and pulse of New York City are just as effectively preserved. On the other hand, the staging and management of the action in To Live and Die in L.A. are modeled to replicate as best as possible what was done in The French Connection in 1971. In other words, even though To Live in Die in L.A. is an original project, it is essentially a multi-layered variation on a classic film noir concept and action staging and management.

Friedkin’s comments on the nature of the characterizations are hardly surprising, too. In To Live and Die in L.A., all characters are flawed human beings whose desires and goals are very closely intertwined. (One of Friedkin’s most interesting comments is that he did not think that there was much of a difference between the cops and their targets. The cops had a badge that empowered them and opened different doors for them, but that was basically it). Needless to say, all characters are actors in the game of life and constantly perform in consequential acts.

The story that is told in To Live in Die in L.A. is a complex mosaic of several such consequential acts. In one of these acts, Detective Richard Chance (William Petersen) loses his partner (Michael Greene) days before he is to retire and vows to track down his killer. In another act, an extremely talented artist-turned-counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe) begins flooding L.A. with fake dollars, but after one of his mules is arrested becomes suspicious of a close associate (John Turturro) and reaches out to a well-connected client (Steve James) with a request to permanently silence him. In another act, Chance and his new partner (John Pankow) begin improvising to get the counterfeiter but make crucial errors and an undercover FBI dies. When events from each act start overlapping, L.A. begins to look like a giant casino where all kinds of different people are willingly and unwillingly betting their lives.

The masterful depiction of the overlapping is without a shadow of a doubt what elevates To Live and Die in L.A. above all other films that are linked to L.A. noir. It is done at an incredible, often exhausting tempo, but the drama that flourishes in it is strikingly organic. Also, somehow Friedkin and cinematographer Robby Muller manage to flood the drama with some absolutely breathtaking visuals from the rougher areas of L.A.

*Another fine film from the 1980s that very effectively preserves the flexible personality and pulse of L.A. is Hal Ashby’s action thriller 8 Million Ways to Die.

To Live and Die in L.A. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, To Live and Die in L.A. arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The 4K restoration of the film is also available on 4K Blu-ray. I viewed it native 4K but did several comparisons with this Region-B release from Arrow Video as well. I think that a few areas look marginally better on the latter because grain is handled a tad better. However, the Region-B release has tiny nicks popping and other minor surface imperfections that are not present on this release. Also, I decided to upscale this release to 4K just so that I can see how it looks projected on a big screen. I was very impressed with the upscaled material. Delineation, clarity, and depth looked excellent. I think that color balance is very, very good as well. Obviously, most people will be upgrading to 4K, but I think that this release and its 1080p presentation of the 4K restoration of To Live and Die in L.A. should not be ignored. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

To Live and Die in L.A. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The comments below were used in our review of the 4K Blu-ray release of To Live and Die in L.A.. I tested several areas of the 1080p presentation of the 4K restoration on this release with the 2.0 track only and did not encounter any issues.

I have always viewed To Live and Die in L.A. with the 2.0 track, so this time I spent a lot of time with the 5.1 track. To be honest, while my preference would be for the 2.0 track, I like both tracks a lot, and in some areas, I think that the 5.1 track definitely excels. One of these areas begins with the murder of the undercover FBI agent. The wild chase through East L.A. has some great moments, too. The dialog is very clear, sharp, clean, and easy to follow. I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review.

To Live and Die in L.A. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by William Friedkin. It is an outstanding commentary -- like all commentaries Mr. Friedkin has done over the years -- that addresses numerous areas of the production history of To Live and Die in L.A.. For example, there are some very interesting comments about the casting of William Petersen and how a lot of scenes were essentially improvised to capture raw feelings and emotions. Also, there is excellent information about several locations in L.A. where key sequences were shot and some challenges that had to be overcome, the ambience and tone of the film, and the stylish '80s soundtrack.

• Taking a Chance - in this archival program, William Petersen discusses in great detail how he was approached and consequently cast to play his character in To Live and Die in L.A., what it was like to interact and work with William Friedkin in L.A., his interactions with John Pankow (with some hilarious comments about the filming of the wild chase footage), the presence and personality of L.A. in the film and how both were managed by Friedkin, etc. An outstanding program that was produced by the folks at Shout Factory for this Collector's Edition of To Live and Die in L.A.. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Rennaisance Woman in L.A. - in this archival program, Debra Feuer recalls how she was cast to play her character (the initial plan was for her to be a bisexual mulato), the filming of specific sequences and her character's presence in them, William Friedkin's directing methods, etc. The program was produced by Shout Factory. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Doctor for a Day - in this archival program, Dwier Brown recalls how he landed his small part in To Live and Die in L.A. and what it was like to work with an Oscar-winning director like William Friedkin. There are some particularly interesting comments about Friedkin's willingness to let actors improvise before the camera. The program was produced by Shout Factory. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• So in Phase - in this archival program, the British duo Wang Chung explain how they entered the film business and recall their initial interactions with William Friedkin and the type of music he desired for To Live and Die in L.A. The program was produced by Shout Factory. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Wrong Way - in this archival program, stunt coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker discusses the intricate relationship between a stunt coordinator and a director and how the former is expected to meet the latter's expectation. There are some very interesting comments about how the nature of the stunt coordinator job evolved over the years. Mr. Hooker discusses in great detail his involvement with To Live and Die in L.A. as well. The program was produced by Shout Factory. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Counterfeit World - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the production history of To Live in Die in L.A., its characters, and the unique depiction of L.A. in it. There are some very interesting comments about the novel by Gerald Petievich that inspired William Friedkin to make the film and similarities between cops and their targets. Included are clips from interviews with Friedkin, William Petersen, John Pankow, and co-producer/editor Bud Smith, among others. The documentary was produced by MGM and has appeared on numerous previous home video releases of To Live and Die in L.A. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Deleted Scene and Alternate Ending - presented here is an excellent deleted scene with John Pankow and an alternate ending with comments by Pankow, William Friedkin, William Petersen, and Bud Smith. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Tariler - presented here is a remastered U.S. trailer for To Live and Die in L.A. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Radio Spot - presented here is vintage U.S. TV spot for To Live and Die in L.A. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

To Live and Die in L.A. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In my opinion, L.A. noir begins in the 1980s and ends in the 1990s, and its masterpiece is William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A. There are other similar great genre films that effectively depict the City of Angels as a giant casino with multiple identities where people are willingly and unwillingly betting their lives but they do not look or feel as organic as To Live and Die in L.A.. Also, in terms of visual style, everything that made films that emerged from the 1980s special is on full display in it. This is an incredible accomplishment because the same can be said about Friedkin's The French Connection and its relationship with the 1970s. If you wish to add To Live and Die in L.A. to your collection, keep in mind that it is available on 4K Blu-ray as well. You can see our listing and review of this release here. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.