Absolutely Fantastic

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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.

This movie begins with a shootout in Oakland between the police and a group of black men. One of the black men named "Goldie" (Max Julien) is caught and sentenced to 5 years in a penitentiary. When he finally gets released he meets up with a childhood friend name "Lulu" (Carol Speed) who has since become a prostitute and laments to him how difficult her profession is without a pimp. He then makes the decision to accept the challenge and begins to actively recruit attractive women to oversee. One thing leads to another and soon he becomes the top "mack" in all of Oakland. Yet while this obviously translates into increased revenues for him it also attracts other undesirable elements who want a cut as well. So now he has to contend with crooked cops and an organized crime boss in addition to his rivals. Now, rather than reveal any more of the story and risk ruining the movie for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a fairly good "blaxploitation" film which seemed to get better as the movie progressed. Personally, I didn't think Max Julien fit the role that well because of his quiet demeanor but he still put in a decent performance all the same. Certainly worth a watch for those who enjoy films in this genre.

'The Mack' is one of the very best blaxploitation movies of the 1970s, and one that has had an enormous influence on both hip hop culture and Quentin Tarantino. Max Julien gives a brilliant performance as Goldie an ex-con who decides that pimping is his best hope for survival and success. Julien had played one of the members of Jack Nicholson's psychedelic combo Mumblin' Jim in Richard Rush's 60s classic 'Psych-Out'. 'The Mack' should have put him up with Fred Williamson and Richard Roundtree as a major black star, but for some reason his career never took off, despite his obvious charisma and co-writing and co-producing the hugely successful 'Cleopatra Jones'. So much so that when Tarantino wanted him to audition for the part of Marcellus Wallace in 'Pulp Fiction' he was unable to even track him down. Too bad as Julien would have been a terrific Wallace and it might have kick started his career. Apart from Julien the movie features Richard Pryor as his crazed best friend Slim, Roger Mosley (who played Leadbelly in Gordon "Shaft" Parks little seen biopic) is Goldie's politically active younger brother Olinga, and Carol Speed ('Abby') plays Lulu, the prostitute who gets him started in the game. But my favourite supporting role is the one by Don Gordon who plays Hank, an evil corrupt cop. Gordon later went on to play another nasty piece of work in Dennis Hopper's 'Out Of The Blue'. He's just terrific in both movies and rarely gets the attention he deserves. 'The Mack' definitely makes my blaxploitation Top Five, along with (no order) 'Superfly', 'Shaft', 'Black Caesar' and 'Coffy'. (Sorry I don't count 'Across 110th Street' as blaxploitation, otherwise I'd list it).

This is one of the greatest movies you will ever get the chance to see. Goldie is now my idol, and he is a fine role model for young Americans. Just look at how he brainwashed those hos via footage of outer space and sonic music. What a player! Ever since I saw this movie, I've decided to wear a hat with every outfit I put on. If you're not entertained by the plethora of smooth one-liners, or Goldie's five-foot cane, then you must surely enjoy scene after scene of disrespect to the Oak-town Hos-my favorite is when "Pretty Tony" promptly beats down one of his hos with his own hat after she presents him with an amount of cash that is apparently not acceptable for a four-hour shift on the street corner...what a slacker. I give The Mack 4 pimpslaps. And to leave you with words of wisdom from our hero, Goldie: "Get out there and get me my money. I don't care how long it takes, just get it