For the many that have asked, Enron – The Smartest Guys in the Room, the first movie from HDNEt Films will be available on DVD on January 17th. You can pre order it now from online stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and others.
This is a GREAT movie. Its made quite a few Top 10 Movies of 2005 lists. It has been
named the top documentary of 2005 by several reviewers and associations.
.
And if one movie isnt enough for you, dont forget to check out the DVD release for the War Within. It ships January 31st.
The War Within was easily one of the most controversial movies of 2005. Critics either loved it or hated, Fortunately , more loved it. There were untold crazies out there calling me names just because we made this movie. I loved it. Hopefully many of you will check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.
And for those of you, who like myself do not support the Hollywood approach to copy protection and fair use, ifyou buy a copy of either movie, check out the copy protection environment that we use.
I felt that this movie was one of the better documentaries done in the last few years. Also, the content of the movie was the driving force, not the director. (read Michael Moore movies)
Comment by runescape money -
Such was too directly tied, in that Enron problems indirectly got Arnold elected, it was much much more complex. State spending problems ahoy, blank checks heavy, incompetent management, machine-politics, strong-arming Union politics, Barbra Streisandisms, lax immigration controls, Davis himself playing Enron-like games, hiding bad news in state’s finances, in short, even the heavy Democratic Establishment of California became fed up with Davis.
Comment by wow powerleveling -
This enron debacle certainly makes for good Sunday afternoon couch potato fun.
Comment by Mike Lawrence -
The War Within was my favorite 2005 release. Grab the DVD if you can, it has a great commentary by the director, too.
Comment by Kenneth Morefield -
I just added Smartest Guys and War Within to my Netflix queue! I can’t wait! But I too am surprised that Mr. Direct-to-Consumer is suggesting Amazon instead of some downloadable method… ~M
Comment by IT中国 -
Some people may seem to take my activities as “risky” and I assure you for those uninitiated is VERY risky. Professional trading is a skill to be learned is is not for the light hearted.
Comment by qqtn -
Watched it yet again, repeat viewings and it just gets better and better, flocked it to all my friends and talked it up to hundreds. Can’t say enough good about this. Well researched, not attack-dog, good measured, right-tempo, right-pace, swift and slicing.
Ok, me being me…I do have one bone to pick…
Being a Sacramentoite, California’s problems with Gray Davis went WELL beyond the Enron energy tiddlywink games. Such was too directly tied, in that Enron problems indirectly got Arnold elected, it was much much more complex. State spending problems ahoy, blank checks heavy, incompetent management, machine-politics, strong-arming Union politics, Barbra Streisandisms, lax immigration controls, Davis himself playing Enron-like games, hiding bad news in state’s finances, in short, even the heavy Democratic Establishment of California became fed up with Davis. Not that the replacement did much good, Arnold is just a cartoon photo-op Governor, spending more time in LA than Sac, not breaking through the iron-fisted Legislature. But it’s a grand revisionist history for Davis to backpedal and blame all his problems on Enron.
But, here’s what was missing, I thought you should have tagged Lockyear’s quote, “I would love to personally escort Lay to an 8-by-10 cell that he could share with a tattooed dude who says, ‘Hi, my name is Spike, honey.”. Bit harsh, and wholly unprofessional, but yet somehow fitting. Irony.
Comment by Christopher Coulter -
News web sites are making it impossible to follow the latest Enron trial because there are countless news items being published each day. Check out the EnronOffline blog, its a posting of 3 to 5 good stories that sum up the court trial each day. Its maintained by a former Enron employee.
EnronOffline.com
Comment by James McDugal -
Hi Mark,
Until I came across your blog entry, I had no idea the Enron book, which I actually *read*, checking it out for free from my local library, is now your movie. It’s at the top of my Netflix queue. The book, for me, reads like the Texas version of Bonfire of the Vanities.
Mark, could you comment on Netflix vs. Blockbuster vs. any other method of DVD distribution? Seems to me that both of these models are short term, and that if we had bandwidth comparable to South Korea or Sweden we wouldn’t need either brick and mortar or snail mail? DVD over power lines looks more sustainable.
Ira
Comment by Ira Krakow -
Hey Mark,
I thought the Enron movie was great. I watched the movie on a referal from a Psychology professor, and had no idea it was an HDNET film. Once I knew it was one of yours I was excited to review the content to see if you had a competitive product. I felt that this movie was one of the better documentaries done in the last few years. Also, the content of the movie was the driving force, not the director. (read Michael Moore movies)
Comment by Travis Richardson -
Copy protection is only a detail. You can make a single backup copy of just about everything with the right software.
Comment by Game Copier Reviews -
Just finished watching the Enron DVD, those crooks should be made to bathe in a tub of acid, ammonia & bleach. God help us.
I trade binary options on TradeSports.com. I know Mark has said it before, but it’s not obvious to people who simply purchase stock, when you buy stock, there is someone on the sell side.
Comment by Eddie -
Enron SGITR was sooo scary and good. Getting that and ‘Crashers today. BTW, I wish someone tracked the fouls/penalties in the NFL – pro football is becoming unwatchable because of penalties on every other play, commercials and pre/during/post game hype.
Comment by a whyte -
Saw it in theatre (Enron) and absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to anyone. It even made the stock market is for suckers advice from Mark even more relevent.
Comment by Mike O'Krongli -
Thanks for bringing the interview to our attention, John.
Comment by Devin Reams -
It is easily one of the best movies of 2005.
Comment by tabbie -
Devin:
Based on his past posts (http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000957046914/) and interviews on the subject, I do believe there will be no copy protection of any kind on the discs.
To wit (http://www.zeropaid.com/news/5265/Zeropaid+Interview:+Mark+Cuban,+Tech+Entrepreneur+and+Owner+of+the+Dallas+Mavericks+):
———-
ZP: Your thoughts on D.R.M, consumers hate it. Companies love it.
Do you believe consumers have the right to do what they wish with
products they have legally purchased?
Mark: They can do whatever they please with it. We don’t put DRM on any HDNet content at all. It’s a waste of time and money. The money spent on DRM and trying to protect and prosecute could possibly be more than what’s legitimately lost in sales to piracy (a download isn’t the same as a lost sale. That person may not have had the money or intent to buy)
———-
I salute you, Mark Cuban, in your sane approach to consumers, viewers, and people.
Comment by John -
Can’t wait to see them. How about the new Steven Soderbergh movie, Bubble, that will premier in theaters and on HDNet the same day and released on DVD 4 days later…Way to go Mark & Todd, I love your way of thinking. Thats the way to challenge Hollywood!
The other commenters are right, you need a direct-to-consumer distribution method.
Comment by David Ward -
yay finally! i’m goign to check it out and get myself a copy!
Comment by cali -
I just added Smartest Guys and War Within to my Netflix queue! I can’t wait! But I too am surprised that Mr. Direct-to-Consumer is suggesting Amazon instead of some downloadable method… ~M
Comment by Horrorscope -
This is a must see…fabulous movie…and even better as the trial is coming up soon…finally
Comment by Gillian -
Hey Mark, any chance of posting the copy protection environment on here? Or pointing us in a good direction? I’m just curious…
Comment by Devin reams -
Any plans to release these in either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray format this spring?
Comment by Brandon -
At long last! It’s on DVD! But plugging Amazon as the best place to buy it?
I (erroneously?) thought you guys were going to be doing direct-to-consumer DVD sales as part of the whole upending-the-distribution-model play… Seems like you’re giving up good margin by not having your own direct outlet for selling it- in addition to the obligatory channel sales, no?
Nevertheless, I’ll take what I can get!
Comment by Dan Newit -
Any chance that we will see a DVHS release of these two interesting titles?
Comment by Jeff Osadczuk -
Looking forward to seeing both of these. Much support both for making them and for not being like Hollywood in distributing them.
Comment by Ryan Stauffer -
Mark, have you considered releasing these movies on Apple iTunes and Google Video? This would seem to be consistent with your direct delivery to demand model.
Comment by Colin Scroggins -
Placing an order right now for the Enron movie! I am glad you have the balls to blaze your own trail with regards to distribution and DRM. Screw the old Hollywood mentality.
Comment by Marc -