Greetings, all and sundry! I am going to take a step sideways and count some coup. Regarding a few recent minor victories involving films that come very close to or exceed ‘Required Viewing’ status. I’m thrilled that my recent labor of love entailing ‘The French Connection’ tempted Ruth and others to enjoy its gritty suspenseful wonders. So, I am going to push my luck and proffer a similar, later work by William Friedkin. Very strong in the ‘Partner film’ vein I’d touched on in ‘The French Connection‘. With a change of locales, crime and really, not a whole heck of a  lot more. Allow me to introduce::

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

Our story begins with a Presidential visit to the City of Angels and a huge motorcade of long black limousines rolling up on a huge, palatial, opulent hotel. In and amongst the countless guys with suits, bulges on their hips and under their armpits is anonymous Secret Service Agent Richard Chance. Magnificently played by William Petersen in his first major role before Michael Mann’s Manhunter. Petersen’s Chance plays close to the edge and earns himself a transfer after he helps foil a terrorist plot to blow up an unseen President Reagan during a fundraising speech.

Cut to a deserted highway heading east to the sunny deserts of Las Vegas and about ten of the finest minutes devoted to the meticulous nuts and bolts dirty work of forging one twenty dollar bill into tens of thousands. From the cutting and substitution of the serial number. To the proper mixing of inks and pigments. Setting the rollers on a massive multiple press. Photographing the bill for the press and setting it as the plate. Then watching a young, hungry, pre-Platoon Willem Dafoe, finally throw the switch and make magic happen!

Dafoe portrays Eric Masters. Artist, con man, counterfeiter extraordinaire. With equal measures of socio and psychopath blended in to make him even more interesting. Masters fronts a few Art Houses and runs a sizable string of inner city and urban clients to spread his bills around. Bills that look so good that they are hard to trace and thus, have his fingerprints and handiwork all over them.

Bills that inevitably come under the scrutiny of the Secret Service Counterfeit Division. Agent Chance and his soon to be retired partner, Michael Greene. Who really wants to bust Masters before pulling the pin. Chance, who now faces his inner fears by Bungee Jumping bridges, wants Greene to be patient. Greene thinks otherwise. Finds Masters’ Vegas workshop and is ambushed by a 12 gauge shotgun for his efforts.

Of course, every cop and Fed from miles around converges on the site. Chance finds Greene’s body in a dumpster. Plus a handful of poker chips in one of several clothes dryers used to age newly printed bills. Now, Chance has a singular mission. One that takes precedence over such paltry things as rules and regulations. Worse yet, Chance is saddled with a relatively new, bright and shiny, by the book, untainted partner, John Vukovich. Given low key, yet impeccable life by John Pankow in very likely his best work in film.

To say that these two dislike each other would be understatement. Vukovich is career oriented. While Chance wants a steaming hot cup of Payback. Regardless of the cost. Warrants are sought on somewhat shaky ground for wiretaps and camera surveillance on Masters’  and others’ upscale digs. While Masters connects with his urban clients who want more of his product and are unwilling to pay for the last batch. Battle lines are being drawn as Chance and Vukovich get a lead on one of Masters’ mules and take him down after a brisk foot chase that ends in an LAX men’s room.

The mule, John Turturro. Rarely better. Knows to keep his mouth shut. To a point. He tells Chance a little of this and a little of that and is put in General Population for his efforts. Only to have to sit through a later tête-à-tête with Masters to assess what damage was done. Masters returns to his urban client and fronts half of a large chunk of money for the client to arrange to have the mule shanked while awaiting arraignment. That attempt fails and Masters returns and wants his money back. NOW! The client doesn’t have it. Masters kills the client and two lieutenants with a silenced pistol. Cleans up. Then gathers up his loot.

Cut to the house under surveillance. Where Masters bisexual girlfriend, Bianca. Smoderingly played by Debra Feuer, lies in wait. Not for Masters, but slimy, deal making L.A. distributor and money launderer, Max Waxman. Who tried to set Masters up and has welched on more than one deal. Masters find them in a compromising position. Takes whatever clean money Waxman has and dispatches him with the same silenced pistol. Then burns what’s left of the old funny money before starting anew.

In the interim, Chance hatches a plot, whose initial gossipy kernel is supplied by his parolee, informant girlfriend. Ruth. Flawlessly, scuzzily played by Darlanne Fleugel. Chance wants to make a buy from Masters, but the Federal coffers for such a deal are far short. Enter the gossip. A diamond buyer is coming to L.A. with a briefcase full of money for a handful of uncut rocks. The buy is to take place under an overpass of the Freeway. All Chance and Vukovich have to do is steal the briefcase. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything, evidently. The deal is real, but the buyer is an FBI agent going after the forerunners of Blood Diamonds. The buyer arrives. Chance and Vukovich jack him up and get the case. Just as an FBI sniper fires too late and takes out the undercover agent. A gun fight ensues that turns into a superb, spine chilling, seat jumping chase as Chance and Vukovich take their car against traffic. Over hill and through the market and truck farm district to the viaducts last seen and well utilized in the movie, Them!. Before eluding their pursuers and finding a no questions asked Auto Body shop for a new rear window and windshield.

Shaken, stirred, but not rattled, Chance and Vukovich set up their meet at the L.A. Athletic Club. Masters is leery of Chance and Vukovich’s lack of tans and their story of fronting for a Palm Springs bank, but he is intrigued. Buy in money, to the tune of a cool million is mentioned and agreed to by the Feds without batting an eyes as another meet is set up.

I will leave it right here due to the Prime Directive regarding spoilers

Now, what Makes This Film Good?

Friedkin again catching the lightning experienced in The French Connection. Again working with a young and relatively unknown cast eager to work with a proven director. Using some of the same tricks learned long ago and applying them to sections of  L.A. that few people know and even fewer see. Presenting a gritty, grimy facade that masks the sleazy world of unmentioned, greedy and bent lawyers and judges. Who supply the undertone and a lot of the motivation of those doing dirty deeds and the lawmen who pursue them.

Do NOT let the Wang Chung soundtrack upset or put you off. The music is exactly of its time. And works exceedingly well in keeping the suspense at just the right tone as Chance leads his wide eyed partner, Vukovich deep into the slimy underbelly of the beast. Where suspicion is second nature and paranoia is plane fare.

Cinematography by Robby Muller is first rate. Showing the pervasive smog of the cityscape in many scenes. Ornery, obstinate and rarely anxious to move. Setting the down pressured tone that things are very different on the West Coast. Then shifting to crystal clarity for indoor scenes. Not showing many shadows, but when they do show up. They are there for tension heightening reasons. Editing by M. Scott Smith is also superb. Especially in the chase scene that leaves very little on the Cutting Room Floor.

Kudos to Lilly Kilvert’s Production Design and getting abandoned buildings to look like Federal office spaces. Also Set Design and Decoration handled by Buddy Cone and Cricket Rowland. For making the outbacks of Vegas and beaches and businesses outside Venice look so formidable and forgotten!

What Makes This Film Great?

William Petersen just beginning to show off his chops in an extremely meaty role that has been visited many times before in countless films. While following William Petievich’s twisting, turning, never arrow straight novel and screenplay with William Friedkin’s help. Petersen’s Rick Chance is no angel. Though he may have been before the Presidential visit that put him in charge of tracking down one particular counterfeiter. Given personal Carte Blanche, Chance is willing to bend and sometimes break the rules. Even if it sends his partner screaming to find a lawyer to protect his career. Petersen’s Chance seems made for his regulation breaking jeans, T Shirt, boots and leather jacket. Opposite Vukovich’s buttoned down collar, tie and  two and three piece suits.

John Pankow owns his role as John Vukovich. A brand new FNG who is willing to follow his partner. Even after the wheels come off with the disastrous diamond deal. Letting his eyes and body language do the talking on his personal sojourn through the seven circles of Hell. To rise like the Phoenix on the other side. A truly great role very masterfully imagined and delivered!

The unnamed ladies and gentlemen in attendance. From Dean Stockwell’s superbly slimy lawyer, Bob Grimes. Who revels in playing both sides in the never ending game. While not being averse to taking a bribe as well as a retainer. To Steve James as Masters’ urban connection, Jeff Rice. All muscle and bad attitude. It’s a treat to watch him trying to get over and intimidate Masters. As well as Robert Downey Sr., who makes the absolute most of his brief time on screen as a judge who tolerates Chance. While wanting nothing more than to crush him.

The ladies deserve equal billing. Debra Feuer mystifies from the moment she appears on screen. Though not fully realized until well into the film. Her Bianca can read men as easily as others glance at coins and count change. She is made for Masters. Offering insights that to her are obvious and several moves into the future of the game. Darlanne Fluegel’s Ruth is perfect as a fidgety, scared, two time loser, parolee and Chance’s personal snitch. Too clever for her own good. While hoping her nightmare will end someday. Also turning in a silent, sensual performance is Jane Leeves. In her first credited role as Bianca’s girlfriend, Serena. Long before her role as Daphne in Frasier.

The Film’s Mystique:

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What do you think of To Live and Die in L.A.? Do share ’em in the comments.