An authentic example of the blaxploitation craze of the time, The Mack is definitely not for those who feel that crime doesn't pay. In the case of Goldie (Max Julien), it certainly does. After five years in the clink for a crime he certainly did commit, Goldie emerges as the top pimp in town. This raises the ire of a) existing pimps, b) his former boss, c) his idealistic younger brother who's trying to clean up the streets, and d) his long-suffering mom. But Goldie is unapologetic about wanting what he wants (i.e., power and money). There's no magic transformation wherein he realizes he's doing bad things for bad reasons. He is what he says he is: ruthless and uncompromising, like the main character in The Harder They Come. But Julien is terrific as the conniving, autocratic, and strong-willed pimp daddy, and The Mack's appeal hinges his gleeful performance.
Review of The Mack
