Spain conquers Hollywood

Nowadays Spain seems to be a fashionable topic in L.A. or Los Angeles, the city of Hollywood. Two men have made the miracle: Pau Gasol, the new Lakers star, the famous and glamorous basketball team of the city (there is a second one, Los Angeles Clippers, although not so world-wide known) and Javier Bardem, the Spanish cinema star and winner of an Oscar for the best actor in a supporting role for his creation of the sociopathic killer Anton Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men" directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen.

"Gasollywood", "Problem Gasolved" or "In Pau we trust" were some of the messages of support Gasol could read in the Staples Center, the home of Lakers, the night of his premiere. From the very beginning Gasol has adapted to his new team and to the systems Phil Jackson, Lakers´coach, plays with. His great understanding with Kobe Bryant, the great team star has made experts think that Lakers are a candidate for the final victory in the play-offs at the end of the season. In fact, in the last ten games with Gasol already in the team, Lakers have won nine matches with only one defeat.

Javier Bardem has achieved success in Hollywood after a long career in Spain with famous titles like "Mar Adentro" or "Los Lunes al Sol". He was not a new actor in America because it was his second nomination. He got his first one with his role of the Cuban writer Reynaldo Arenas in "Before Night Falls" ("Antes de que anochezca"). Bardem dedicated the award to his family, Spanish actors and actresses and to Spain. After José Luis Garci, Pedro Almodóvar and Alejandro Amenábar, Bardem got a new Oscar for Spanish cinema and became the first actor in getting it.

Do you think Pau Gasol is an example of Spanish development and success in sports?

Have you seen "No Country for Old Men"? Did you like it? Did you like Bardem´s performance?

Have you seen any of Bardem´s films? What is your opinion of him as an actor?