Timing of its release couldn’t be better for the Oscars prospects of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which comes just months after its star Javier Bardem, sporting the creepiest hairdo this side of Donald Trump and Jacko, terrified Hollywood into handing over piles of academy gold to No Country for Old Men.

At the previous Oscars, Penelope Cruz (Volver) posed the most serious threat to usurp Helen Mirren (The Queen) in the best-actress race but, having failed, now seems due to reign too. At the derby before that, many Oscarwatchers thought Woody Allen would finally have his big comeback, but Match Point, despite nabbing a screenplay nomination, didn’t catch fire, so the three-time winner is now sparking new heat.

Congratulations to Miss Cruz for this wonderful and well deserved honor!

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz will receive a Gotham Award Tribute at the nonprofit Independent Feature Project’s 18th annual Gotham Awards.

Cruz will appear December 2 at Manhattan’s Cipriani Wall Street to accept the career achievement honor. She currently stars in two English-language productions: Isabel Coixet’s Elegy and Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Additional honorees at the IFP event will be announced shortly, and a full list of Gotham Award nominees will be unveiled October 20.

Source: Reuters/Hollywood Reporter