"This kind of dialogue may seem easy to write, but anyone who has ever tried knows it’s almost impossible. Here, we get everything we need to know about these two guys and the rules of their worlds in a handful of near-grunts." I'm reading it now (on your recommendation), and you are exactly right. I'm thinking David Mamet (one of my favorites) may have read "Eddie Coyle." or some other Higgins. Or maybe they were separated at birth?
I'd love to see David Mamet, Elmore Leonard, and George V. Higgins all at a table talking about anything. The first three GVH books are great and are very satisfying when read in a row.
So great article and discussion of the book/movie.There are so few adaptations that are this close to the source.The book Wiseguy was all in Goodfeĺlas.with the awesome Scorcese flourishes added of course.That they were all mid level guys struggling was a great point..Richard Jordan(always great)'s prick fed was so unlike most portrayals of police/good guys(save the NYPD depicted in Serpico...Even Popeye Doyle looked out for his snitch.
I have but it’s been awhile. I was obsessed with the hardboiled voice when i was young, even got a letter back from James M Cain. I should reread all three.
"This kind of dialogue may seem easy to write, but anyone who has ever tried knows it’s almost impossible. Here, we get everything we need to know about these two guys and the rules of their worlds in a handful of near-grunts." I'm reading it now (on your recommendation), and you are exactly right. I'm thinking David Mamet (one of my favorites) may have read "Eddie Coyle." or some other Higgins. Or maybe they were separated at birth?
I'd love to see David Mamet, Elmore Leonard, and George V. Higgins all at a table talking about anything. The first three GVH books are great and are very satisfying when read in a row.
So great article and discussion of the book/movie.There are so few adaptations that are this close to the source.The book Wiseguy was all in Goodfeĺlas.with the awesome Scorcese flourishes added of course.That they were all mid level guys struggling was a great point..Richard Jordan(always great)'s prick fed was so unlike most portrayals of police/good guys(save the NYPD depicted in Serpico...Even Popeye Doyle looked out for his snitch.
Loved this book since I was a kid. What a writer!
He’s great! Have you read the next two after that? Both are terrific.
I have but it’s been awhile. I was obsessed with the hardboiled voice when i was young, even got a letter back from James M Cain. I should reread all three.
Woah! That’s very cool. I got a letter once from Elmore Leonard. If you go onto my main page and find the post about Out of Sight, you can see it.
Worth every every I hour spent sitting around listening to drunken film school guys mumbling about it.