Mac

Queens, New York, 1953. Mac (Turturro) and his younger brothers Vito (Badalucco) and Bruno (Capotorto) work together in the building trade. Mac's obsessive perfectionism brings him into constant conflict with foreman Polowski (Krupa), who is only interested in cutting corners. Eventually Mac persuades his brothers that they should go into business for themselves, but the intensity of work inevitably takes its toll. Turturro's directorial debut is - appropriately - a labour of love. It's an ambivalent portrait of a Willy Loman figure, a man whose pride in his craft verges on egomania. There are strong performances throughout. The psychodrama which emerges towards the end infringes Cassavetes territory, but without the essential rigour. This, however, is a serious, likeable effort, not always successful, perhaps, but shot through with insight and conviction.