Connect with us
There's a new kind of hero on the streets!

Film

‘The Mack’ is a Stylized and Provocative Interpretation of Street Hustling

There’s a new kind of hero on the streets!

Set in Oakland, California, The Mack was the highest-grossing blaxploitation film of its time, and the story behind the making of the film is perhaps more interesting than the actual movie itself. Rumour has it that screenwriter Robert J. Poole started developing the treatment and script on toilet paper while he was in prison and later passed it on to Max Julien and Richard Pryor, who wrote the final draft. The film is notorious for featuring the first-ever Players’ Ball, and along with Julien and Pryor, the film also featured real-life criminals, including the legendary Ward brothers. The production was plagued with problems: Richard Pryor’s notorious behavior and drug habit led him to be kicked off the set after assaulting the director; Frank Ward was murdered during filming, and The Black Panthers pirated the film stock in exchange for having a say in the making of, as well as an appearance in the movie.

The Mack Blaxploitation Film - Max Julien and Richard Pryor

Director Michael Campos, who had only previously made documentaries for ABC, set out to create an honest vision of life in the ghetto streets of Oakland. The movie deals with the life of John Mickens (AKA Goldie), and his one-man journey through the dark world of organized street crime. Once a small-time drug dealer, Goldie aspires to become a big-time pimp, only standing in his way are other players, corrupt white cops, and a local crime lord.

The Mack is pretty much a straightforward crime flick in which one man rises to the top and eventually falls, but what makes it unique is how the filmmaker lets the scenes and dialogue unfold naturally. The script was rewritten throughout the shoot, and the excessive use of street jive was all off the cuff, making the accuracy of the chichi pimp stereotypes dead on.

The Mack is a stylized and provocative interpretation of street hustling that features all the components that exploitation fans crave. It’s far from perfect – it’s incredibly preachy, occasionally clichéd and sometimes disjointed, but it’s as true to the game than any other pimp movie out there. However, the number one reason to see The Mack is for Max Julien’s terrific, low-key, dopey-eyed performance. His understanding of the pimp dialect and the conduct of 70’s ghetto slang is spot on. Goldie’s transformation from small-time crook to big-time pimp is thoroughly engrossing, and his character later became a key influence on popular culture’s perception of American pimps. Why he never went on to become a huge star baffles me.

The Mack - Max Julien

Additional notes:

Oliver Stone has been quoted in saying that The Mack was a direct influence on his script for Scarface (1983). The Mack is also a window on the world of today’s Hip Hop culture and has been sampled in hundreds of songs (rap, R&B, hip hop, etc), including Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. Also, worth noting is the funk score by Willie Hutch.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our spotlight on blaxploitation cinema.

Ricky D

Written By

Some people take my heart, others take my shoes, and some take me home. I write, I blog, I podcast, I edit, and I design websites. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Goomba Stomp and Tilt Magazine. Host of the Sordid Cinema Podcast and NXpress Nintendo Podcast. Former Editor-In-Chief of Sound On Sight, and host of several podcasts including the Game of Thrones and Walking Dead podcasts, as well as Sound On Sight. There is nothing I like more than basketball, travelling, and animals. You can find me online writing about anime, TV, movies, games and so much more.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Lauryn Hill Joins Drake On Stage During Night 1 Of Wireless Festival

Celebrity

Taylor Rooks Seemingly Responds To Drake’s Mention In Unreleased Song From “ICEMAN” Livestream

Celebrity

Jurassic World Rebirth review: Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey help the franchise roar back to life

Film

15 Best Military Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Film

Fat Joe accused of sex acts with minors in $20 million lawsuit filed by former hype man, rapper denies allegations

Celebrity

Tyler Perry Pops Out At Beyonce Show In Paris Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Celebrity

Jameela Jamil Net Worth: Actress, Advocate, and Influencer

Celebrity

The Best Albums of 2025 (So Far)

Film

Lil Wayne “Tha Carter VI” Review

Celebrity

‘Christy’ Review: Brothers Estranged by the Care System Rebuild Their Bond in a Moving Irish Crowdpleaser

Film

Mello Buckzz’s Boyfriend Shot-&-Killed During Her Mixtape Release Party

News

YNW Melly’s Family Shows Up To Support Him At Court Hearing

Celebrity

Sabrina Carpenter unveils new album art ‘approved by God’ after controversy over original’s suggestive imagery

Celebrity

Trillian, Busta Rhymes’s Son, Prepares To Inherit The Throne: On NLE Choppa Collab, Lyrically Sparring With His Dad & The Significance Of Lil Wayne’s “10,000 Bars”

Celebrity

F1 Review: Brad Pitt’s Sports Drama Has Exciting Racing Scenes And A Bloated Runtime

Film

Trippie Redd Reportedly Arrested In Miami For Mysterious Reasons

Celebrity

Connect