Even though there are four other flicks nommed for best picture at the Gotham Awards, the bid scored by Sean Penn's "Into the Wild" is the most significant. Suddenly, it makes his most successful directorial effort a Gotham-sized contender in the derby.

Of the five films in the mix, it's the most Oscar-friendly. Sure, "Margot's" Nicole Kidman and/or Jennifer Jason Leigh could be nominated in the acting races by academy voters. Ditto Cate Blanchett in "I'm Not There" and both pix plus "The Namesake" could be up for screenplay kudos. But, given Sean Penn's star power, none of them has a better chance to reap a bid for best picture — let's be honest — than "Wild," which means it's the frontunner to win the top Gotham prize.

In 2005 and 2004, the Gotham winners were both nommed for best picture by Oscar voters: "Capote" and "Sideways." Last year was an aberration. Winner "Half Nelson" was nommed in the Oscar best-actor race (Ryan Gosling), but not best pic. It won at the Gothams by default because there was such an uproar over "The Departed" — not a little indie by any s-t-r-e-t-c-h of the term — being included in the category too.

"Great Wall of Sound" and "The Namesake" also got big kudos bumps today, even if not up to the top Oscar race. This makes them serious contenders in other slots, particularly "Namesake," which is getting an aggressive campaign push from Fox Searchlight. "I'm Not There" and "Margot" were already securely in the derby. Read more about the Gotham bids — CLICK HERE!