Mack, The (DVD)

I had not seen this movie in years!

It was a gift for my mom

The Mack (1973), probably one of the most referenced movies in the hip hop culture, on appearance has all the qualities of a blaxploitation film, but a closer and thoughtful look might give you a different opinion. Directed by documentarian Michael Campus and starring Max Julien, Richard Pryor, and Carol Speed, The Mack presents a portrait taken in time of a particular lifestyle not many ever get to see.The movie opens with two men, Goldie (Julien) and Slim (Pryor), involved in a gunfight in a junkyard. Seemingly out numbered, Goldie tells Slim to take off (wouldn't have been my choice as Slim is sporting what appears to be a M16 while Goldie's sporting a handgun). Slim manages to split, while Goldie gets picked up by the police, and subsequently sentenced to five years in a penitentiary. Serving some particular hard time, Goldie gets released, and tries to put the pieces back together. He visits his brother, Olinga, played by Roger E. Mosley (Magnum P.I.), who is involved in trying to educate and empower the community, in a character fashion after Black Panther leader Huey Long. Basically. Goldie is presented with two options; follow his brother in focusing on making a difference through psuedo-political means, or follow the path of the Mack, becoming a flesh peddler, and gaining empowerment through the acquisition of money. Goldie chooses the latter, hooking back up with Slim and taking advice from an older blind man, sort of a Obi Wan Kenobi of the underworld, who shares his knowledge with Goldie on how to deal with women in the Mackin' game, the importance of controlling their minds rather than just their bodies. Goldie soon recruits some ladies of the night, and has to deal with corrupt police detectives, rival players, and various other underworld characters during his meteoric rise (he gets chosen as The Mack of the Year at an annual players ball). As Goldie's popularity, or notoriety, increases, so does the pressures, both internal and external, along with the violence, and begins carrying over into his family, and forces Goldie to decide where it's at...The Mack certainly does seem to glorify these men who deal in the flesh trade, with their extravagant lifestyles, flashy cars, and great wads of cash, but the glamour is quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities presented as the stories progresses, and just how much one has to give up to be a success in that particular business. There are a lot of laughs to be had here, maybe not intentional, but the film is pretty dated. Between the dialog, stereotypes, and trash-talking criminals, there was an underlying sadness for me in the realness of the disgusting attitudes depicted towards the women, objectified to the point where they weren't even people anymore, merely tools of the trade, a means to obtaining material possessions through the sale of their bodies, and also how many look up to these men, idolizing them, thus perpetuating their activities. Shot on location in Oakland, and featuring actual individuals within the community, the film forgoes the slickness of a Hollywood budget, but gains a real grittiness one wouldn't be able to reproduce on a soundstage. The dialog, a lot of it improvised, and some indistinguishable, only adds to the realistic quality of the film, but also isolates it, in my opinion, within the time period in which it was made. The funniest part had to be when Goldie had his women at a planetarium, using the effects of the simulated stars and a microphone to subliminally enforce his will through their repetition of his player mantras. I did like how the film ended, nicely book ending the beginning, bringing the main character full circle.Presented here is a very good looking wide screen version of the film, which runs approximately 110 minutes. Special features include an original theatrical trailer, a commentary track featuring star Max Julien, producer Harvey Bernard, director Michael Campus, and actors Richard Anthony Williams, Annazette Chase, Don Gordon, and George Murdok, along with an excellent 38 minute featurette titled Mackin' Ain't Easy, which looks back on the making of the film, detailing all the problems and issues that arose, especially those filming on location within Oakland in the early 70's. To some extent, I found this almost more enjoyable than the movie.Cookieman108

"Get back out there and get me mah moneyyyyy. Now git!!"- Goldie

I have been watching this movie since I was a very young boy. While there are many funny parts to this movie there are some very sharp undertones. My favorite segment is when Goldie is thinking back to his Preacher Father, giving a sermon. Goldie mentions in the film that his Father was killed in Alabama.The Sunday Text was the Prodigal Son. The Man is speaking on how the Boy is going into a mean world but he didn't know where he was going: Going to a world of liars, of Pimps, Prostitutes, Drug Dealers, Gamblers, Dope Smokers, etc...but he didn't know where he was going. The Preacher said that if only some of us would stop and think about where we are headed, we'd be alright.In the end he says of the Prodigal Son: And I can see this young man as he says: 'I believe I'll head on home.' This part touches my soul and I watch it everytime I am going home to see my family. See, this movie is about black survival and took alot to even be completed.This is one of the most authentic tales if not the most of it's genre. What ghetto has no humor? There are other things; like the struggle between Goldie and his Panther-Like Brother; The Haters and of course the flat out original lines like the ones from the the Barber Shop scene which ends off with Dude saying: 'I had a shooby-dooby for you last night' I don't know what a shooby-dooby is but I sure want one. Laugh all you will but make no mistake, this movie is pure heart and pure genius.

Just what I wanted!!!

First of all, if you haven't seen The Mack yet and don't own a million copies (videos, taped off cable whatever) either you're too young, or something is a matter with you... this is just one of THOSE films... and it is the epitome of everything cool and funky about the '70s... Hey its a film about Mackin', right ? But what gets this version worth having is the commentary, both by Julien, the Director and other people involved... apparenty the story behind the story is almost as interesting as the film... Its hard to believe that the film was pretty much based on a true story and amazing to hear the true story of Fred Ward - - the Mack and drug kingpin of the West Coast who acted in the film AND provided security... but was shot in the back of the head after filming... with the finger pointed according to SOME people to Huey Newtown and the Black Panthers (who certain cast members allege acted more like gangsters than the gangsters.) And then there's the story of some of Richard Pryor's bizarre behaviour.As many times as I've seen the film, many of the scenes get better and better, and with the added commentary I can now see them in a separate way.Max Julien is a great storyteller - - The Mack is - - well, THE MOVIE ! ! !

Still remember it like it was today.

Came across a clip from The Mack on YouTube a few years ago and had been meaning to buy and watch it in full ever since.Eventually looked it up on Amazon and found it. I did look at the reviews before purchasing and went ahead even though many of the comments were a little so so or too focussed on the 'pimp' side of the movie's theme. Anyway, I bought it and finally had the time to watch it. The plot has been stated by other reviewers elsewhere so no need to repeat it here.I've given the movie 5* because rather than glamourising the 70's pimp game, as I thought it might do, it was more for me a very good commentary on the 'American Dream' or more aptly the 'American Nightmare' for many black people struggling for a piece of the pie but trapped within the poor, mafia and police corrupt inner cities post the civil rights and black power movement era of the 60s.I'm not sure if this movie came before the Shaft ones but if it did you can definitely see that the Shaft movie theme of 'takin on da man' and winning was already up and running in The Mack.Overall, I thought it was a very insightful, entertaining and enjoyable movie and will definitely watch it again soon.

If you want to see women portrayed as stupidly begging pimps to take them on as prostitutes and being brainwashed by planetarium stars, then this film is for you. The WRC (white racist cops) are also shown as equally stupid, and the Italian mobsters are all untrustworthy bullies. Only black men are honourable and worthy.

A true collectors item.. but I chose a medium rating because of the acting .. being a backup release following Superfly a unique but B movie .. it dosen't even have the professional quality of its predesessor ...

great film.blaxploitation at it's stereotypical best. great music too.

wasn't for me a present