In a move that this writer can only characterize as something of a Shakesperean tragedy, Paramount Studios has made the decision to move the Martin Scorcese/Leonardo DiCaprio-headlined Shutter Island back to a February 19, 2010, as reported on Deadline Hollywood.
Nikki Finke, the voice of the blog site, writes: “An insider tells me. ‘It tested in the high 80s/low 90s and Scorsese even brought it down to 2 hours.’ So what’s the problem? I hear that Paramount told the filmmakers it doesn’t have the financing in 2009 to spend the $50M to $60M necessary to market a big awards pic like this.”
Despite a considerably lucrative summer (Star Trek, Transformer 2, G.I. Joe) for the once (and perhaps still?) struggling Paramount, Scorcese’s adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s brilliantly engaging novel is being pushed into the “Zodiac death trap.”
Recall Fincher’s crime masterpiece, and the recall it’s complete absence during awards season – and then, finally, recall it’s release date: March 2nd, 2007.
Apparently, Paramount doesn’t believe in this fate. Finke reports the studio’s reasoning: “that’s when Silence Of The Lambs came out” back in 1991 and it won the Oscar. “Now that the Academy has expanded Best Picture to 10 films,” my insider notes, “it will be easier for a movie that came out in the beginning of the year to get nominated.”
Hard to argue with sharp thinking like that. Hollwood runs just like it did 18 years ago. It really makes sense (I trust you read the biting sarcasm here). So, fellow readers, I guess we’ll just have to re-watch the great trailer Island boasts (or go out and buy the great book it’s based on) and wait 5 months longer for what shoulda, coulda and woulda been the Best Picture of ’09.
What do you think of Paramount’s move to push Shutter Island back?