To Live and Die in L.A.

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Director: William Friedkin
Cast: William Peterson, Willem Defoe, John Pankow, Debra Feuer
Memorable Line: "Buddy, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time."

* Underrated and Overlooked *
This is one of those edgy movies that I don't think people knew how to take and because of an unconventional plot twist near the end, it's not a film that's entirely successful. It's still got an edgy energy to it that is quite compelling.

The movie follows a driven Secret Service agent, Richard Chance (Peterson), who has a 'take no prisoners' approach to his job. His latest target is a high-end counterfeiter, Rick Masters (Defoe), that he just has to take down. Blocked by the bureaucracy, Chance decides to bend the rules to the point of breaking to find a way to bring Masters to justice.

Peterson brings a raw energy to his performance that's almost electric. Defoe is icily cool as the counterfeiter. Pankow plays Master's partner who gets in way over his head and is convincingly confused and frustrated with his partner's tactics.

Directed by William Friedkin of French Connection fame, this movie has one of the most hair raising and thrilling car chases to appear on screen since "The French Connection." Yes, there have been many car chases in movies, but this one has the chase going against traffic on an L.A. freeway while the car is being shot at, seemingly from every angle. Friedkin does something quite unconventional near the end of the movie that could be seen as brave or stupid that nearly derails the movie's momentum, but the movie does survive it and does work in spite of it.

If you enjoy action with some thought behind it, then this movie should fit the bill.