I'm not sure if it's an official collaboration but Jay-Z began work on his new Album after watching an advanced private screening of Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The album will be released in early November (close to the release date of the film) and tracks from the album have begun appearing on the internet.Production-wise the stuff I'm hearing is close to Jay-Z's "Blueprint" (my favorite Jay-Z album). Lyrically it's closer to "Reasonable Doubt" (lots of gangster mafioso storytelling).I wish I could get a little more of the introspective Jay-Z...but I'm really digging the overall feel of the music.Intentional or not, this is a brilliant cross-promotion. The movie gets the street-cred it needs to make it cool from the young kids. Jay-Z has a justified reason for sounding both gangsta and soulful.Below are the tracks I could find on YouTube:Roc Boys (produced by Kanye West)Blue Magic Video (music produced by Neptunes)???? (featuring Lil' Wayne, prouduction sounds like Kanye West)American Gangster Trailer (the inspiration)

I finally got around to seeing "Children of Men" starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moore. Damn. That may very well be one of the best film's I've seen in the last year. Someone was telling me that Director Ridley Scott claims that "Sci Fi" films are "dead". Clearly Mr. Scott hasn't seen "Children of Men".In the film, Theo (Clive Owen) assists a faction of rebels to help a pregnant woman to safety in a future dystopia where all human beings have inexplicably become infertile.Director Alfonso Cuaron ("Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "Harry Potter 4") does a masterful job of creating a rich world and visceral story. From the opening seconds of the film the viewer is thrust into a rusty world overloaded with information. Instead of glamorizing the future, the world of "Children of Men" forces the audience to catch up with the frantic paranoid pace of it's inhabitants.I highly recommend this film. Anyone read the novel it's based on?Here's an amazing steady cam scene that (I assume) was Cuaron's homage to "Saving Private Ryan":

"Shoot 'Em Up" just got released in theatres this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing it. I am a little hesitant because it looks like the kind of film that can be really good or really bad. The cast is amazing. Clive Owens is the ultimate bad ass. Paul Giamatti has been great in everything he's in. Monica Bellucci is still gorgeous in her mid-40s. But it's obvious from the trailer that they're playing up the "cheese" factor in the film.I hope it ends up being more "Desperado" than "Replacement Killers" (there's no way in hell it could be as good as "Hard Boiled"). If any of you guys end up checking it out feel free to share your thoughts.

Just a reminder. If you're in the Los Angeles area and want to see SPLINTER, it's been released today. Info here. Here's the new trailer.

I've already talked about SPLINTER. It's the amazing first movie of Michael D. Olmos. Michael will be the director of THE LUCHADORES FIVE movie. SPLINTER will be released this week. It's unfortunately a limited release but if you have the opportunity, don't miss it, it's a wonder.AUG 17th 2007- LIMITED RELEASE ONLYMANN Theaters - THE PLANT;7876 Van Nuys Blvd.; Van Nuys, CA 91402AMC Theaters - ONTARIO MILLS 30;4549 Mills Circle; Ontario, CA 91764AMC Theaters - AMC COVINA;1414 N. Azusa Ave.; Covina, CA 91722

We just signed a deal with Club Deal Films and Chamber Six to adapt the "Luchadores 5" as a live action movie. We are now one small step closer to making a "Luchadores 5" film a reality! Below you will find Muttpop Bob, Screenwriter Adrian Cruz, Jerry Frissen, Producer Pierre Spengler, and Director Michael Olmos sharing a champagne toast. Wish us luck in sharing our Lucha Libre universe with the world!