Mack
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VHS Movie Reviews of Mack
Movie Review: Get the DVD ! ! !
Summary: 5 Stars
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 ! ! !
Movie Review: DVD version puts The Mack in the proper perspective
Summary: 4 Stars
I work in an office environment where the dress code is casual for most employees. Last week, however, one of my co-worked comes to work "dressed to the nines"! Suit, tie, gleaming shows, brim cocked acey-ducey...the man was CLEAN! Without thinking, the first words out of my mouth were, "Goldie...Goldie...Goldie!"
Goldie, of course, was the character Max Julien played in The Mack. The Mack was one of several movies I came to love as a teenager. Every other Saturday, either alone or with several friends, I'd go to the now defunct Met Theatre in Baltimore Maryland, and watch movies. At the time, a kid could watch 2 or 3 movies and several cartoons in rotation for about $3.00. Thinking back, I guess they had maybe 20 or so films they would show repeatedly, and us kids would faithfully watch our favorites over and over again until they became indelibly etched into our consciousness.
We saw all the Clint Eastwood westerns and a few of the Dirty Harry films. All the Sean Connery as Bond flicks. James Coburn as the Flint character. Bruce Lee. The horror films, especially those with Vincent Price. My favorites, however, were the films which featured black actors. Sidney Poitier in "Lillie of the Field". "In The Heat of the Night." I should have stock in "To Sir With Love", ...MAN I loved that film! "Buck & the Preacher"..."Uptown Saturday Night..."Let's Do It Again". Eventually films arrived featuring different black characters, namely Superfly, and of course The Mack.
"The Mack" is one of those films that could be easily dismissed as a low budget blaxploitation film, but one would be mistaken to do so. There has to be something special about that movie to allow people to vividly remember scenes and dialogue years after it was first released. After viewing the DVD release, I understand what that "something" is. There is a conviction in the performances that jumps from the screen. You BELIEVE these people. You live vicariously through them. You WANT that lifestyle...those clothes, their women, that money. They effectively communicate the power derived from the pimping game...which makes the climax so shockingly apparent, as you realize the PRICE that must be paid for pursuing such a lifestyle.
The thing that stands out for me now at 47, is how much I admired Goldie; how smooth, strong and confident he seemed. At the same time, I understand now, as I did when I was a kid, that there was an inherent weakness to the man as he sought to manipulate others to fulfil his own selfish desires. The pain he inflicted on his family, and his resultant downfall was enough to convince me long ago that macking might not be a wise career choice. I have never felt this film glorified pimping, though I feel it gives a faithful portrayal of what the game is all about.
Granted, a bigger budget might have given this film a more professional look, but after learning how the movie was made, I have a much different perspective. "The Mack" is extraordinary given the conditions it was made under. In any case, the strong performances overcome any cosmetic objections one may have with the film.
As I've owned the VHS version of "The Mack" for many years, I resisted purchasing the DVD version until yesterday. The extra commentary and the "making of" documentary add a whole new dimension to the film. I highly recomment it's purchase.
Movie Review: pimpin good
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this a long time ago.I remember is how cool and smooth goldie is. this movie influence hip hop so much. The lead character gold make many special apperaces in rap videos and movies.Movie Review: The coldest pimp in history.................................
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mack comes with a documentary that shows you how "The Mack" was made! Financed by The Notorious Ass Ward Brothers (real pimps & hustlers),with small roles in the film.
Max Julien as Goldie, ex-con with 5 years in the pen kicking his nasty habit dream is to comeback to the game better, biggest Cadillac, and a track filled with the finest hoes any man would want.
It's all about the money! Right? Goldie teaches his fine and prime how to steal, trick, deceive, and above all else "remain a lady!" "Any man can control a woman's body, the trick is controlling her mind!"
With all the irony...evil white cops, a wisdom-spouting blind man, and more trash-talking pimps; there's a compelling message...All the money, all the things he attained what did it cost him?
More money...more problems...
Movie Review: "a wad of cash so big your pockets look like they got mumps"
Summary: 3 Stars
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