That plot may sound similar to the plots of a thousand lesser thrillers, but believe me "To Live and Die in L.A." is different. It never flinches from showing just how destructive and dangerous obsession can be. Chance will use any means legal or illegal to have his revenge on Masters and he pays the price. And Masters, a rich artist who counterfeits more for the thrill than the profit, is just as obsessed and even more self-destructive than Chance.
Petersen's performance is first rate and intense. He does a hell of a job as the lead, virtually carrying the movie forward by the power of his personality and charisma. He is supremely believable in this role and his physical energy never falters.
On the other side of the coin, Dafoe seems tailor-made for the character of Masters, who is so decadent that, for him, crime has become just another art. Masters is a bad guy with real depth and Dafoe tears into this role like a homeless guy attacking a steak. His intensity and commitment to the character are one of the fulcrums of the film, and he delivers an awesome performance.
Petersen and Dafoe do most of the heavy lifting in this flick, but the supporting cast is also first rate. "To Live and Die in L.A." benefits from solid performances by John Turturro, John Pankow, Dean Stockwell, and even, in one of her earliest roles, Jane Leaves of the "Frasier" TV show.
All of these performances would go for naught without the vision of a talented storyteller, and director William Friedkin supplies that vision. Friedkin, whose credits include "The French Connection," "The Exorcist," and "Sorcerer," takes this movie to the limits and does not flinch from blood, sex, or violence. The truth of the story and its characters are of primary importance to Friedkin, and it shows.
