‘To Live And Die In L.A.’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – William Friedkin Thriller Is Dynamite Filmmaking

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

William Petersen (Manhunter, TV’s CSI) and Willem Dafoe (Platoon, Mississippi Burning) face off in a deadly game of cat and mouse in this riveting action-thriller directed by cinema legend William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer). Full of style and grit, this raw tale of corruption and revenge boasts one of the most harrowing car chases ever caught on film and a shockingly explosive ending. Federal agent Richard Chance (Petersen) has a score to settle, and he’s through playing by the rules. Whether that means blackmailing a beautiful parolee, disobeying direct orders or hurtling the wrong way down a crowded freeway, he vows to take down a murderous counterfeiter (Dafoe) by any means necessary. But as the stakes grow higher, will Chance’s dark obsession with vengeance destroy him? The ultimate ’80s neo-noir, To Live and Die in L.A. features John Pankow, Debra Feuer, John Turturro, Darlanne Fluegel and Dean Stockwell, with cinematography by Robby Müller (Paris, Texas) that captures the City of Angels from the trendy elegance of Rodeo Drive to the seedy, neon glow of Hollywood.

For thoughts on To Live and Die In L.A., please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/EXMMI2aDpio?t=4304]

Video Quality

To Live and Die In L.A. makes its long-awaited debut on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a fabulous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The Blu-Ray disc that accompanies this release is derived from the same new restoration, which can also be purchased separately if desired. The film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2010 courtesy of MGM which I personally do not own, so direct comparisons are limited to only the new Blu-Ray disc. The improvements from the new Blu-Ray to the 4K UHD are obvious if not night and day, but by all accounts this should be a massive upgrade from the ancient disc. 

The film features wonderfully gritty natural film grain that suits the narrative famously. This grain remains intact and nearly always resolves naturally free of clumping and swarming. There are a few odd moments where the encode offers up some noisy skies, but these are fleeting moments at worst. The film is finally allowed to unlock the nuances of its original source on home entertainment with so much subtle detail and texture never before seen outside of a theater. Just look at any interior or the buttons on certain shirts and be amazed. The command over contrast and overall clarity is rewarding to the cinematography, especially in unique details within the production design and the clothing.

The Dolby Vision translates the heightened, deep colors courtesy of DP Robby Muller throughout free from unnatural color grading. Articles of clothing and distinct lighting choices easily leap off the screen with vibrancy. With the 4K UHD release, the transfer remains pleasantly crisp throughout with little in the way of softness or fluctuation. Highlights are more stable and bright without ever blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones are dialed into an acceptable hue, perhaps leaning just a touch warm in some shots. Fans will agree this one was worth the wait from Kino Classics. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio lossless track that sounds quite favorable. While some may have desired a new Dolby Atmos surround track, we are just glad to have the original audio in such good shape for artistic integrity. Dialogue comes through without hindrance even during more action-packed moments in public spaces. The track balances every element of the audio so no one facet gets the short end of the stick. The surround channels in the 5.1 mix provide some great additional texture to the world, but nothing ever appears to be pulling focus unnaturally. Directionality of the sound is never an issue thanks to its distinct placement. The awesome Wang Chung score establishes a mysterious atmosphere within this narrative, and it flows out with pleasing fidelity. The low end is not intended to be a knockout within the confines of the story, but it adds some texture to a few moments. This audio presentation is a satisfying experience for fans. There are optional English subtitles provided. 

4K UHD Blu-Ray

• Audio Commentary: Director William Friedkin delivers a very informative archival commentary track in which he states at the beginning that he is not going to be commenting directly on the film, but rather discussing his personal recollections of the production. While this is not entirely true as there are several allusions to what is happening, the filmmaker explores the development of the project, the equipment used to film certain tricky sequences, the casting and acting choices and much more. This is well worth a listen if you are a fan of the feature or want to get more from it. 

Blu-Ray

• Taking A Chance – Interview with Actor William Petersen: A 21-minute interview with Petersen in which he discusses how Gary Sinise helped land him the role, his approach to the character, working with William Friedkin, filming the epic chase scene and more that is well worth a watch. 

• Renaissance Woman In L.A. – Interview with Actress Debra Feuer: A 15-minute interview with Feuer in which she discusses getting cast in this role, her memories of Friedkin, how her character evolved from the script, the reality of filming certain sequences and more. 

• Doctor For A Day – Interview with Actor Dwier Brown: A nine-minute interview with Brown in which he discusses working with Friedkin, the audition process, the place of improvisation on set, working with his cast mates and more. 

• So In Phase: Scoring To Live and Die In L.A. – Interview with Composers Wang Chung: A 13-minute featurette in which the musicians discuss becoming attached to the film, what Friedkin wanted for the picture, their initial impressions of the film and more. 

• Wrong Way: The Stunts of To Live and Die In L.A. – Interview with Stunt Coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker: A 36-minute conversation with Hooker in which he discusses the relationship between directors and stunt coordinators, what Friedkin wanted to accomplish on the film, working in a time of practical effects, the editing of the picture and more. 

• Counterfeit World – The Making Of To Live and Die In L.A.: A 30-minute archival featurette which delves into the origins of the project, the casting, adapting the novel for the screen, the visual aesthetic of the picture, the motivations behind certain characters, technical challenges they faced, the effect of Los Angeles on the picture and more. 

• Deleted Scene and Alternate Ending with Introductions: A 13-minute piece which offers some deleted material along with some comments from John Pankow, William Friedkin, William Petersen, and Bud Smith.

• Radio Spot: A minute-long radio spot is provided.  

• Trailer: There is a two-minute trailer provided for To Live and Die In L.A..

Final Thoughts

To Live and Die In L.A. is a thrilling effort from William Friedkin, and it says something in a career as impressive as his that this stands as one of his best. This story is intricately crafted and ceaselessly gripping as you careen through this layered narrative. William Petersen is delivering a fearless performance alongside a young Willem Dafoe who is out to prove himself as one of the best to ever do it. There are moments of filmmaking in this one that will have your jaw on the floor, and it is a journey that never gets old. Kino Classics has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a grand A/V presentation and a deep array of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film and have yet to pick it up, this is a no-brainer purchase. Recommended 

To Live and Die In L.A. is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.