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Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
#575050
06/06/10 10:17 PM
06/06/10 10:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,819 Australia
Mickey_MeatBalls_DeMonica
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Mickey Meatballs
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Mickey Meatballs
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I was scanning the forum to find the thread about the book's Carlito's Way & After Hours. I couldn't believe it when i saw that there hadn't been a thread already started about this (am i wrong?? Maybe. I was sure there's a Carlito topic floating 'round the boards) Anyway... here goes.
If you have not heard of the books by Edwin Torres about fictional Puerto Rican gangster Carlito Brigante, you've at least more then likely caught notice of the Brian DePalma film starring Al Pacino as the eponymous Brigante, but hopefully not the Rise to Power sequal/prequal whatever. Blech. Talk about lack luster. Please dont let that be your introduction to the saga of Calos Brigante.
Now the original film based on the novels (the movie Carlito's Way is actually based on the second book, After Hours) stars Al Pacino in one of those (it feels like hundreds) awesome roles he just nails; to me, he looks, sounds & acts the way i imagined Carlito in my head. Not everyone liked the movie, & it definitely had its flaws, but IMHO...Pacino is not one of them. A pretty solid supporting cast, Sean Penn, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo & Viggo Mortensen amongst others BUT... im not poosting about the movie.
The the novels on which the films are based were authored by Edwin Torres, a man with an interesting career, in so far as he was not a writer by trade. Torres, born 1931 of Puerto Rican descent, was raised in Spanish Harlem, a family of very modest means. None the less, Torres graduated from high school & went on through college & later law school; after passing the bar, he spent some years as an assistant D.A & in criminal defense. As an aside, New York in the '50 is kinda notorious for its gang culture, particularly amongst young minority groups. I imagine Torres was exposed to his fair share of tempatation as a young adult, but he was obviously strong enough of character to rise above & flourish.
Since 1980, Torres served as a Judge for the Twelfth Judicial District in New York City. His experiences around criminals & the justice system has given Torres an insider view of the criminal mind, which he harnessed to create the classic New York Puerto Rican gangster of the period, Carlito Brigante.
Carlos Brigante comes up in the '50s, hard-scrabble, & where else but New York? Carlito charges through a life with a fair share of struggles, winning some, losing some, & ultimately serving a few prison bids. But Carlito, as it says on the blurb, has "...too much wit, too much spirit & raw courage..." to ever be held down. Carlito pays his dues, forms some solid connections & raises above the riff-raff, sticking around much longer then anyone would have expected, a few cuts above the average half-assed wiseguy "Po' Rican".
One of the apects i loved about the novels was Torres obvious knowledge of mob workings & customs; of course, a crime novel set in New York during the'50s makes it an obvious reference. Carlito spends his criminal careers in the shadow of the mob, conceding to their power but not their authority (he's no Eye-Talian, why should he care what these old mutts think of him?) Nonetheless, through a connection he made in prison with the nephew of a boss, Carlito is known to be stand-up by them, & have offered him jobs at times. Although he never actually throws in his lot with them, he is seen by some as "being with the wops". His charisma & criminal pedigree make him the defacto leader of a small crew of Puerto Rican thugs, some of Carlito's innumerable friends & connections from the old neighbourhood.
Carlito is a criminal, but he is not a bad guy. Thats part of what makes this books such a good read for me; sure he's a thug but you cant help rooting for him & laughing at some of his jokes. Torres charts Carlito's whole life & crimal world so exacting & floridly: just another great book. Check it out. Seriously.
Sorry, sorry. Long, long possst.
(cough.)
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: Mickey_MeatBalls_DeMonica]
#575067
06/07/10 11:17 AM
06/07/10 11:17 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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Torres is a bright and witty guy. He's a local Judicial legend here in the Bronx. I've actually seen him a few local restaurants, but not lately. I think he may have retired from the bench. Both of his Carlito Brigante novels were well written, with great dialogue. They're out of print and hard to find, but I'm sure you can pick them up online.
He also wrote the novel "Q&A," which was adapted into a pretty good film, directed by the great Sidney Lumet back in 1990. Timothy Hutton and Nick Nolte were both pretty good, and Armand Assante had a pretty good turn as a Puerto Rican gangster. But Puerto Rican or Italian, Assante's gangsters seem almost all the same to me. It seems as if he's just playing Armand Assante. That's not really a bad thing, it just doesn't show much range on his part.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: Mickey_MeatBalls_DeMonica]
#575190
06/09/10 04:46 AM
06/09/10 04:46 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 35 Joisey
Charlieopera
Wiseguy
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Wiseguy
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Joisey
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Thanks for this. I'm going to see what I can find out about Torres. Sounds interesting to me.
Charlie Stella Johnny Porno (April, 2010) Stark House Press Mafiya: A Novel of Crime (January, 2008) Pegasus Shakedown: A Novel of Crime (June, 2006) Pegasus Cheapskates: A Novel of Crime (March, 2005) Carroll & Graf Charlie Opera: A Novel of Crime (December, 2003) Carroll & Graf Jimmy Bench-Press: A Novel of Crime (December, 2002) Carroll & Graf Eddie's World: A Novel of Crime (December, 2001) Carroll & Graf www.charliestella.com
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: pizzaboy]
#579238
08/15/10 09:39 PM
08/15/10 09:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,989
getthesenets
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He also wrote the novel "Q&A," which was adapted into a pretty good film, directed by the great Sidney Lumet back in 1990. Timothy Hutton and Nick Nolte were both pretty good, and Armand Assante had a pretty good turn as a Puerto Rican gangster. But Puerto Rican or Italian, Assante's gangsters seem almost all the same to me. It seems as if he's just playing Armand Assante. That's not really a bad thing, it just doesn't show much range on his part. I saw Armand play Napoleon on TV when I was young. I can't ever see him as anything other than Napoleon. He was in American Gangster phoning in another performance as an organized crime figure. Even before I discovered this board, I heard raves about his turn as Gotti. One day I will watch it in its entirety.
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: SC]
#599800
04/12/11 05:48 PM
04/12/11 05:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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Pleasant Avenue (@118th Street) was also where Sonny beat up Carlo in the street. That's right, SC. My parents were married in 1958 right around the corner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. You would LOVE their wedding pictures. That was my father's Parish as a kid, and my grandmother, who may have been the last Italian born woman on the block, worshipped there every day until the day she died in 1991.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: pizzaboy]
#773507
04/18/14 11:02 AM
04/18/14 11:02 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,845
cheech
Underboss
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Joined: May 2012
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Torres is a bright and witty guy. He's a local Judicial legend here in the Bronx. I've actually seen him a few local restaurants, but not lately. I think he may have retired from the bench. Both of his Carlito Brigante novels were well written, with great dialogue. They're out of print and hard to find, but I'm sure you can pick them up online.
He also wrote the novel "Q&A," which was adapted into a pretty good film, directed by the great Sidney Lumet back in 1990. Timothy Hutton and Nick Nolte were both pretty good, and Armand Assante had a pretty good turn as a Puerto Rican gangster. But Puerto Rican or Italian, Assante's gangsters seem almost all the same to me. It seems as if he's just playing Armand Assante. That's not really a bad thing, it just doesn't show much range on his part. Great books. Always wish they did a prequel. When I bought it and read the back that Edwin was a judge it surprised me. Highly recommend these two. Picked them up about twelve years ago at a used book store on Chapel St in New Haven that unfortunately is no longer there. Now it's a fuckin Shake Shack. My city is no longer my city and it's sad. I remember in the late 80s and early 90s you only went "down town" if u knew someone that lived there, or knew what time it was and kept to your own business. Now all fuckin hipsters. Sry for the rant
When Interpol?
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: olivant]
#773508
04/18/14 11:03 AM
04/18/14 11:03 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,845
cheech
Underboss
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Posts: 1,845
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In Carlito's Way, Carlito ask Lalin(?) if the Italians he's referring to are from Pleasant Ave. What is it about Pleasant Ave. that he would ask that? Smack and the fact that it took place in e harlem
Last edited by cheech; 04/18/14 11:04 AM.
When Interpol?
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Re: Carlito's Way/After Hours by Edwin Torres
[Re: pizzaboy]
#824228
01/16/15 05:23 AM
01/16/15 05:23 AM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,401
Footreads
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,401
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Pleasant Avenue (@118th Street) was also where Sonny beat up Carlo in the street. That's right, SC. My parents were married in 1958 right around the corner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. You would LOVE their wedding pictures. That was my father's Parish as a kid, and my grandmother, who may have been the last Italian born woman on the block, worshipped there every day until the day she died in 1991. That's a good story about your mom pizza. No one is going to buy this but my grand daughter Mia and My newest grand daughter Sophia there experiences with religion and the church has been so good. Plus their Msgn is a real cool guy. I am actually considering attending mass with my wife on Sunday's just to watch the interaction that goes on between my grand daughter and the rest of the kids at the family mass. I don't believe in a god but the service is nice and it's fun to watch.
only the unloved hate
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