Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Michael_Elliott The Mack (1973)*** (out of 4)Goldie (Max Julien) gets released from prison after a five year stretch and heads back to the streets where he plans to become the greatest Mack (pimp) out there. His brother is against the idea and wishes he'd do something better for his people but Goldie becomes a pimp and soon has issues with two racist white cops.The blaxploitation genre was just kicking off when THE MACK was released and it eventually found some new fame when it was used in TRUE ROMANCE. Watching the film today you can't help but rather respect it because it's not really exploitation. Instead of exploitation it really plays out more like an actual drama that tackles various issues that were in the black community. There's no question having a pimp playing your hero is why so many had issues with the genre but THE MACK is a pretty good film.What I enjoyed the most is the fact that it didn't exploit the situation and instead the movie plays out like a very well-written drama. The Goldie character goes through a lot of changes throughout the film and I thought the character development was rather good. I also thought the supporting players like the pimps, the cops and the brother were also very good. There were a lot of ups and downs for the character but I thought it all played out very well and in a serious way.Julien obviously steals the film playing the pimp. I thought he gave a very strong performance and one that kept you entertained throughout the somewhat long running time. Richard Pryor was also fun in his supporting role where he once again proved what a good dramatic actor he could be. Both Don Gordon and William Watson are a lot of fun as the racist cops.THE MACK has some flaws including it running on a bit too long but I think most people will be surprised at how serious the subject matter is handled.

topsail33 Disclaimer - I'm a white guy. I was a kid when this movie came out.Watching it today, it is ripe for ridicule:In only 10 minutes of watching this film, I have seen a black pimp treat black hookers poorly, while he's "dating" a white girl. A black woman even takes exception to this in a Chinese restaurant, chastising him and degrading her AND harassing the Asian restaurant owner.Were there any "black" films of the 1970's, that had any redeeming value ? And what about black films today ? I realize this film is a stereotypical view of black life in the hood. But, it should be used as a benchmark for black people, to push themselves away from this garbage and lifestyle. If you compare this to the Asian population - look at how stereotyped this movie portrays the Asian man - a Chinese restaurant owner with broken English. And look in 43 years' time, where Asians are now. They have worked hard, studied, improved themselves, and stopped making excuses (if they ever did) and have become a very successful and productive part of our society. This movie is just a sad reminder of how little things have changed for some in 4 decades.

jcasetnl SPOILER ALERT I can't believe I've never seen this film before. Actor Max Julien plays "Goldie", an ex-con who returns to the streets determined to make it as a pimp in Oakland.The film was actually shot in early '70s Oakland. Yes, the early '70s, Black Panthers vs Pimps, racial upheaval, everyone get naked next door in Berkeley, warzone Oakland.The directors and producers needed "permission" from both the Panthers and the reigning pimp of the time, Fred Ward, just to film and premiere the film. Fred Ward appears in several scenes as one of the competing Pimps and without a doubt he's one cool cat.The story follows the usual pattern. At first Goldie does well, organizes a stable of fine hoes (and they are fine), buys his mom a new house and is pimpin' in the dopest ride I've ever seen. Like any good pimp he keeps the local school kids flush with cash and warns them not to grow up to be like him. They can be doctors, lawyers, whatever. Just don't be a pimp.Now all the while Goldie is working hard to be the Mack, his brother is heavily involved in the Panthers and trying to improve the community. On several occasions the two brothers clash for obvious reasons. Were it not for the bond of brotherhood they would certainly have nothing to do with each other. But being that they are brothers, they must somehow reconcile their diametrically opposed viewpoints.This is a strong and well delivered theme of the film. While Goldie seeks empowerment one way, his brother seeks it another way. But it isn't played out like a sanitized, good and evil, afterschool special. Both brothers make valid arguments for their choice of lifestyle. In the end, you just can't knock the hustle.Goldie has the local cops constantly on his butt for kickbacks and free hoes and they deliver rock solid performances. One of them delivers the beststream-of-consciousness-drunk-as-a-skunk-with-fat-black-uninterested-hooker performance I've ever seen. Not on par with Gene Hackman's breakdown from heroin addiction in The French Connection 2, but still so good you wonder if he really was actually drunk to do the scene.Of course it's not long before rival pimps and gangsters get just a wee bit annoyed at Goldie taking some of their territory and put the finger on him. First one of his hoes gets offed. Goldie wastes no time in exacting his revenge. His gang ambushes the local kingpin and injects him with BATTERY ACID. Convulsing kingpin death ensues.Then a ho belonging to another pimp decides to join Goldie, and for that, the other pimp kills Goldie's mom! Really. Bad. Idea.Once again, Goldie gets his revenge. This competing pimp carries a cane that conceals a hidden rapier. Goldie, with gun leveled on the guy, orders him to stab himself over and over and then finishes him off with his blazing pistola. He finds out later that it was actually the two white cops that killed his mother, on orders from the pimp. Goldie partners with his brother to deal with them.Alas, the experience has taken its toll and Goldie decides he's had enough of the pimping game.What an incredible film. I originally thought this was going to be typical blacksploitation ala Shaft but I was so wrong. First of all, the exploitation elements are kept to a minimum. I know that's hard to believe given what I've said above but it's true. Well-acted and well-filmed, Max Julien delivers just the right amount of cool, the right amount of visciousness and the right amount of sweetness to his hoes and the audience. The result is a fairly authentic blueprint of the Oaktown in the early 70s, the racial struggle, and of course, the pimping game.

forklift-ny Great movie, with gritty realism. Not blaxploitation in the vein of "Blacula", "Truck Turner" or "Black Frankenstein".Recently got the DVD, cleaned up nicely. Contains the documentary "Mackin' Ain't Easy", which tells the story of the macking, er, making of "The Mack", with the Hill Brothers, from Oakland's underworld, helping to make the movie, while Huey Newton & the Black Panthers trying to stop it.Again, this is a great movie, and a fine addition to any DVD collection.