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Post by Lord Chenney on Mar 21, 2008 17:21:59 GMT -5
Just watched this for the first time. It wasn't an action film as we'd know it. it was a gritty, stylish police drama in the vein of the first series of Miami Vice, but i was gripped from start to finish. I said it wasn't an 80's action film, but i took the liberty of running it through our computer to see if it ticked any boxes. the results were intriguing:
Was it made in 1985?
YES
Did it have a coke fuelled, heavy synth driven soundtrack?
YES
Was the homoerotic tone amped up to the max? eg all of the main character's doing a business deal in a gym whilst all being naked; a distinct lesbian angle.
YES
Was there a gratuitous scene in a strip club with a stripper in the background who was rougher than a chief rabbi's chin?
YES
Was there a car chase that would walk in to an all time 'top 5 car chases' list, that involved driving down the wrong side of the road, boxes full of fruit and that storm drain that is featured in many many films (T2, Point Break, Point blank, 24)?
YES
was Steve James in it?
YES
Was there a stupid police chief that lived so much by the rule book that he actually carries around said rule book and can quote from it at will if the lead character gets shirty?
YES
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Post by hifichip76 on Apr 28, 2008 20:21:10 GMT -5
I think it's a classic 80's action flick-one of the most underrated. William Friedkin could be a brilliant filmmaker and this is one of his best. It's pure 80's style and a great car chase. Good pick!
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Post by bodieci5 on Apr 29, 2008 14:11:07 GMT -5
I think it's a classic 80's action flick-one of the most underrated. William Friedkin could be a brilliant filmmaker and this is one of his best. It's pure 80's style and a great car chase. Good pick! Agreed. I like the way the plot twisted and turned, with the supposedly good guys and the bad guys marking each other's number. Dean Stockwell did a really fine job as a slimy lawyer. Willem Dafoe was creepy as hell in this. William L. Petersen was a convincing anti-hero and I love the way things get switched around in the end. This is probably the best thriller of the '80s, with some top totty (Darlanne Fluegel and Debra Feuer).
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Post by milo on Apr 29, 2008 18:02:14 GMT -5
I remember watching this on telly a little time ago and was pleasantly surprised. That car chase is one of the best chases in movie history and the movie itself is really good. Definitely a movie that everyone should check out
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Post by hifichip76 on Apr 30, 2008 16:39:27 GMT -5
If you guys like this one, check out Friedkin's SORCERER from 1977-another overlooked gem. I'm still hoping for a decent dvd release of this-maybe Bluray someday, but no one seems to care about it.
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Post by CaptainFreedom on Feb 3, 2013 14:38:05 GMT -5
To Live and Die In L.A. is a brutal and unpredictable 80s masterpiece and it never stops to surprise me how it ended up as one of the unfortunately "unknown" classics that no one talks or seems to care much about these days.
A big shout goes to Wang Chung for doing a fantastic job on the soundtrack.
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Post by Kurt Sloane on Feb 1, 2017 4:32:18 GMT -5
Another one to add to the "to watch" list.
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