Michael Mann>>>>Michael Bay AKA Dartflix Edition #60

The international horror film that's destined to become a cult favorite in '09 has been out in Europe since January and in also now available on demand through Comcast digital cable as well as DVD. It opened in just one theater on June 19th but it made an impressive 5k in 3 days with minimal promotion from IFC Films. After 17 days in only 2 locations the film has brought in slightly over $20k but looks to do much better on DVD in North American...especially around October when it should really gain momentum and new audiences can discover it. (or you can buy it now for only $11.99). A movie about killing undead/zombie Nazi's? When does that ever get old?

Michael Bay's latest turd pretending to be a summer blockbuster took the box office the following week by storm. It raked in a completely ridiculous $108 million in it's first 5 days of release. Forget that it was absolutely terrible plotwise, way too long, bloated in every way possible and short on content or character development of any kind, it remained a box office juggernaut. To this very day it's amassed $300 million in North America and another $300 million USD overseas to bring it up to $600 million total worldwide. Since the film's production budget landed somewhere between $200-$22o million it's considered a huge hit by the studio..but universally recognized as a failure by film fans.


One film that has been considered a triumph in filmmaking is the indie war thriller "The Hurt Locker" directed by Kathyrn Bigelow. This film was the darling of the past Sundance/Independent Spirit Awards and was warmly received when it opened in Europe back in October. Why quality films like this take forever to be released in the United States but mindless (and racist!) bullshit like "Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen" has no problem getting made is beyond me. "The Hurt Locker" opened in only 4 theaters but generated an eye eopening $145k in only 3 days of release. After 11 days of release it's managed to rake in just under $400k with a 95% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. I'm really looking forward to the DVD release of this film.


Michael Mann's latest offering "Public Enemies" opened on July 1st in limited release and entered wide release on the 3rd. It brought in a respectable $40.1 million after 5 days in theaters. Reviews have been mixed, however. There's been much discussion of glossing over historic details (like omissions and completely making up events while passing them off as historical fact), jumpy camera work, the argument about using film vs. digital cameras and inconsistent performances from the cast.

Could it be that the high level of expectations people have for Michael Mann films left moviegoers disappointed or did he simply miss the mark much like he did with 2000's "The Insider"? Either way, there's no denying that Michael Mann is 10x the filmmaker that Michael Bay is. Check out my theater and rental recommedations for the first half of July below.

Films I recommend in theaters (7.1.09-7.15.09) or to add to your queue early or for rental from either Netflix or Redbox:

Public Enemies
Blood: The Last Vampire
Soul Power
Knowing
Push
Dead Snow
Death Trance
The Unborn
Night Train
Five Fingers
Resolved
One Missed Call Final
Night Stalker
Grey Gardens
The Edge Of Love
The Haunting In Connecticut
Horsemen
For All Mankind-Criterion Collection
12
[REC]
Explicit Ills
Mystery Science Theater 3000: XV (series)
Reno 911: The Complete Sixth Season (series)
Made Men: Season 2 (series)
The State: The Complete Series (series)
Leverage: The First Season (series)
ER: The Complete Eleventh Season (series)
Tracey Takes On...Complete Seasons 3&4 (series)
Sleepy Eyes Of Death: Collector's Set, Vol. 1 (series)
Peanuts: 1960's Collection (animated)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 (animated)
Kaze No Stigma: Season 1 Part 1 (anime)
Now And Then, Here And There: Collection (anime)
Those Who Hunt Elves: Complete Collection (anime)
Freedom, Vol. 1 (anime)
Bleach Uncut Box Set, Vol. 3: The Rescue (anime)
Bleach, Vol. 18 (anime)
Gungrave: The Complete Box Set (anime)
Claymore Vol. 6- The Awakening (anime)
Blue Seed Complete Collection (anime)
The Deep [Blu-Ray]
Waltz With Bashir
Sword Of The Stranger
Friday The 13th : Extended Killer Cut
Tokyo!
The Hangover
The Taking Of Pelham 123
Moon
Tetro
Defiance
Revolutionary Road
Gran Torino
The International
Away We Go
Legendary Heroes
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete [Blu-Ray]
Terminator: Salvation
The Girlfriend Experience
Angels & Demons
Drag Me To Hell
True Blood: The Complete First Season (series)
Valkyrie
Lions For Lambs
Bane
Killshot
Star Trek
The Brothers Bloom
Angels & Demons
The Limits Of Control
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Incendiary
Taken
State Of Play
Sleep Dealer
American Violet
The Soloist
Tyson
Lymelife
The Informers
Caprica
Martyrs (Unrated)
As The Technics Spin
Fast & Furious
Observe And Report
Adventureland
The Escapist
Gigantic
Duplicity
Watchmen: Tales Of The Black Freighter & Under The Hood
Elegy
Special
Timecrimes
Watchmen
The Horsemen
Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic
Battle In Seattle
Cadillac Records
Rachel Getting Married
Sunshine Cleaning
50 Dead Men Walking
Transporter 3
B13: Ultimatum
Let The Right One In
Choke
Body Of Lies
Protege
Gomorrah
Afro Samurai: Resurrection-Director's Cut
W.
Blindness
Chocolate
Towel Head
Baby
Gonzo: The Life & Work Of Hunter S. Thompson
Sukiyaki Western Django
DJ Dusk's Root Down Soundclash
DJ Spooky's Rebirth Of A Nation
Decon presents Fresh Rhymes And Videotape
Fear(s) Of The Dark
Sold Out: A Threevening With Kevin Smith
Hell Ride
Elite Squad
Ballast
Boy A

Dart's Movie Recommendations (I personally cosign all of these joints):

Public Enemies
Blood: The Last Vampire
Soul Power
Knowing
Dead Snow
Death Trance
Resolved
[REC]
Explicit Ills
Reno 911: The Complete Sixth Season (series)
Made Men: Season 2 (series)
The State: The Complete Series (series)
Leverage: The First Season (series)
Tracey Takes On...Complete Seasons 3&4 (series)
Sleepy Eyes Of Death: Collector's Set, Vol. 1 (series)
Peanuts: 1960's Collection (animated)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 (animated)
Now And Then, Here And There: Collection (anime)
Freedom, Vol. 1 (anime)
Bleach Uncut Box Set, Vol. 3: The Rescue (anime)
Gungrave: The Complete Box Set (anime)

Rent/Watch these movies at your own risk:

Bruno: I wouldn't even watch this shit if I were in it.

I Love You, Beth Cooper: I hate you movies I swear were already made 100x over 10 years ago...

Kath & Kim-Season 1: One of the prerequisites of being a comedy series is that it has to be funny.

A Day In The Life: Two years ago, I received a promo one sheet about a film with rapped dialogue directed by Sticky Fingaz & Mekhi Phifer. The next year, a 5 minute long trailer dropped for said film. Today, that very same film is available for rent & purchase...I may do neither

Flying By: Billy Ray Cyrus is a starring role? Red flag!

See Dick Run: See Dart Avoid. Avoid, Dart Avoid!

Break: Ignore

The Butcher: The Bullshit!

Coming (relatively) Soon To A Theater (or computer) Near You:


One.