Main Cast: John Turturro, Michael Badalucco, Carl Caportoto, Katherine Borowitz, Ellen Barkin, John Amos
Release Year: 1992
Country: US
Run Time: 118 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Actor John Turturro spent a dozen years getting his script for Mac before the cameras; he'd originally planned to merely act in the film, but the stringent budget required that he direct as well. Turturro plays Mac, one of three grown brothers in an Italian/American family living in 1950s New York. His other siblings are would-be "macho man" Vico (Michael Badalucco) and idealistic Bruno (Carl Capatoro). All three are unhappily employed at a construction firm run--badly--by Olek Krupa. Convinced he knows more about the business in his little finger than Krupa does in his whole carcass, Mac sets up his own construction company, wooing away most of Krupa's employees. On the verge of great success, Mac finds that his brothers are unwilling to commit themselves to his new business, a fact that causes an irreparable schism in their relationship. Co-starring in Mac as John Turturro's wife is the real-life Mrs. Turturro, Katherine Borowitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
A favorite of directors Spike Lee and the Coen brothers, character actor John Turturro spent twelve years developing this film about his father, a temperamental, uncompromising New York house builder. While somewhat uneven in tone and undisciplined in length, Mac was critically respected as an intelligent examination of the American Dream and a welcome treatise on the value and price of a dedication to quality. Originally intending only to co-write and star in Mac, Turturro also directed the film in an effort to keep the budget down. It was a family affair for its director, and not just in its depiction of his father, whose voice is heard in an extended telephone answering machine message in the film's finale: Turturro also cast his wife, Katherine Borowitz, in the female lead, and several other family members in supporting roles, including younger brother Nicholas Turturro and cousin Aida Turturro. Turturro did not direct again until Illuminata (1999), teaming again with co-writer Brandon Cole, wife Borowitz, and cousin Aida. Mac won the Camera d'Or award for a debut feature at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Steve Randazzo - Gus; Anthony Alessandro - Young Bricklayer; Kent Broadhurst - Mr Tobin; Harry Bugin - Patient; Dennis Farina - Mr.Stunder; Jayne Haynes - Bum; Olek Krupa - Polowski; Kaiulani Lee - Mrs. Stunder; James Madio - Young Mac; Ruth Malaczech - Burgess; Joe Paparone - Papa; Mike Starr - Fireman; Shirley Stoler - Customer; Mario Todisco - Joe the Mule; Aida Turturro - Wife; Nicholas Turturro - Tony Gloves; Angelo Florio - Paulo Boy; Stephi Lineburg - Young Alice; Matthew Sussman - Clarence; Judith Roberts - Woman on Bus; Michael Glynn - Bricklayer Number 1
Credit
Donna Zakowska - Costume Designer, Steve Apicella - First Assistant Director, John Turturro - Director, Michael Berenbaum - Editor, Richard Termini - Composer (Music Score), Sharon Ilson - Makeup, Robin Standefer - Production Designer, Ron Fortunato - Cinematographer, Nancy Tenenbaum - Producer, Brenda Goodman - Producer, Nancy Tanenbaum - Producer, John Turturro - Screenwriter
Niccolo (Mac) Vitelli is the oldest of three brothers and becomes the de-facto head of their family after their father dies. Their father was in construction and the brothers follow in his steps. At first, they work for Polowski, who cuts corners and does not do an adequate job, as well as being verbally abusive to his employees. This causes them to start their own company - Vitelli Brothers Construction, which will be the opposite of Polowski. Mac starts becoming a tyrannical workaholic and eventually pushes his brothers away.
