Thu September 12, 2013
To Live and Die in L.A., William Friedkin (U.S., 1985)
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at Pacific Film Archive (PFA) Theater
(see times)
When Richard Chance’s partner, a fellow Secret Service agent, is murdered, darkness descends on pastel-painted LaLaLand. All bets are off as Chance (William “CSI” Petersen) vengefully dogs the days of counterfeiter Rick Masters, portrayed by a well-etched Willem Dafoe. Once again, Friedkin effaces the thin blue line—there’s little difference between perpetrator and pursuer except for a badge. Smog-stained sunsets encase the toxic mayhem below in Robby Müller’s striking cinematography. It’s a SoCal where nothing is what it seems: cons carouse with artsy cool and cops crave kinks. But unlike Masters’s fake bills, To Live and Die in L.A. is the real thing.
—Steve Seid
• Written by Friedkin and Gerald Petievich, from his novel. Photographed by Robby Müller. With William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, John Turturro. (116 mins, Color, 35mm, From Park Circus)
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—Steve Seid
• Written by Friedkin and Gerald Petievich, from his novel. Photographed by Robby Müller. With William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, John Turturro. (116 mins, Color, 35mm, From Park Circus)
When Richard Chance’s partner, a fellow Secret Service agent, is murdered, darkness descends on pastel-painted LaLaLand. All bets are off as Chance (William “CSI” Petersen) vengefully dogs the days of counterfeiter Rick Masters, portrayed by a well-etched Willem Dafoe. Once again, Friedkin effaces the thin blue line—there’s little difference between perpetrator and pursuer except for a badge. Smog-stained sunsets encase the toxic mayhem below in Robby Müller’s striking cinematography. It’s a SoCal where nothing is what it seems: cons carouse with artsy cool and cops crave kinks. But unlike Masters’s fake bills, To Live and Die in L.A. is the real thing.
—Steve Seid
• Written by Friedkin and Gerald Petievich, from his novel. Photographed by Robby Müller. With William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, John Turturro. (116 mins, Color, 35mm, From Park Circus)
read more
—Steve Seid
• Written by Friedkin and Gerald Petievich, from his novel. Photographed by Robby Müller. With William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, John Turturro. (116 mins, Color, 35mm, From Park Circus)
show less
Date/Times:
Pacific Film Archive (PFA) Theater
2575 Bancroft Way, East Bay, CA 94720
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