The Mack

R

1973

1 hr. 50 min.

Crime

Drama

List

60%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After a few years in the slammer on a drug bust, John "Goldie" Mickens (Max Julien) returns to Oakland, Calif., determined to raise himself up in the world. When his old friend turned prostitute Lulu (Carol Speed) asks him to look out for her, Goldie accepts and enters the life of pimping. Soon he's the most notorious "mack" in town, but it earns him some unwanted attention. A pair of crooked cops wants him back in jail, and a rival pimp (Dick Williams) tries to steal his business.

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Bro. R

One of the best independent films of its day. A very rough visual depiction of life in Oakland ca. Where Black power politics clash with the hustlers ideology of success. both sides struggle to get from under "The Mans" thumb. Brilliant!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

William L

While frequently confused with a mishmash of storylines that never really come together well, The Mack still attempts to use darker and less immediately palatable criticisms of the culture of the time, particularly the impossibility to incite real social change when there is still a widespread worship of quick wealth and slick criminals. But the film flutters between subplots very awkwardly, not to mention tones; we go from Goldie's sincere remorse over the violence that he brought upon those that he loved to escaping an apartment in an old refrigerator in the span of a couple minutes. There was an attempt at greater nuance than typically seen in most examples of the genre (at least in the protagonist's character development; the white cops in this movie are cartoonishly evil and don't form any sort of complex foil) which should be commended, and seems to be the rationale for the film's modern reassessment. But still, the shortcomings seem to outweigh the strengths in terms of execution. (2.5/5)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/22

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Audience Member

yes, i loved this movie, yes you should watch it, good blackslotation movie. go get it, get it now.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

A low level criminal, Goldie, becomes a pimp and has to deal with the retaliation of other pimps and corrupt police officers. There are some funny scenes of "the players ball" and pimp get togethers where they all play softball in their pimp clothes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you want to learn more racial epithets like: honky, cracker, white trash, etc. you'll watch the right movie with this one. The term mack daddy, the lincoln continentals and cadillacs made up to look like duesenbergs, the fake fur coats with oversized hats, all products cooked up by hollywood producers who spent more time in an office where they couldn't see these things, perhaps utilizing the products offered by the title character of this film, are prominent aspects of the mack. Later movies, and movies produced simultaneously, would cause these creations to be adopted by the general population, the same way I'm with stupid t-shirts, pet rocks, "pyramid power" containers, psychics etc. were adopted. Basically, it's movies like the mack that converted a civil rights movement into a full blown race war that had or has drafted many, many of whom unwillingly, into it's pointless mess. Whether that is black exploitation,wasting people's time and worse lives, in a manufactured struggle, or not, can't be answered by movies like the mack.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Classic blaxploitation is better made than most, but the the rampant misogyny severely dates the film and is pretty hard to take in this tale of pimp Max Julien rising to the ranks of the biggest pimp in town. There's always been a fairly consistent thread of misogyny throughout blaxploitation cinema, but it's really front and center in this film. Despite the offensive elements of the film, the film does have better than average performances. Julian is compelling at Goldie, but there are also strong performances from Richard Pryor, Carol Speed and Roger E. Mosley. I do consider myself a fan of blaxploitation, but this is a film that's never really appealed to me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Michael Campus

Director

Max Julien

Goldie

Don Gordon

Hank

Richard Pryor

Slim

Carol Speed

Lulu

Dick Anthony Williams

Pretty Tony

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Quentin Tarantino

The New Beverly

Even including its flaws, The Mack is the best and most memorable crime picture of the whole blaxploitation genre.

Jun 22, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A violent and trashy blaxploitation flick.

Rated: C-

Jul 24, 2018

Full Review

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

Blaxploitation heaven.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 21, 2004

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 2/5

Nov 23, 2003

Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Apollo Guide

The blended themes are awkward and unnerving.

Rated: 72/100

Apr 12, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

After a few years in the slammer on a drug bust, John "Goldie" Mickens (Max Julien) returns to Oakland, Calif., determined to raise himself up in the world. When his old friend turned prostitute Lulu (Carol Speed) asks him to look out for her, Goldie accepts and enters the life of pimping. Soon he's the most notorious "mack" in town, but it earns him some unwanted attention. A pair of crooked cops wants him back in jail, and a rival pimp (Dick Williams) tries to steal his business.

Director: Michael Campus
Screenwriter: Robert J. Poole
Production Co: Harbor Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Sep 3, 2002
Sound Mix: Mono