Prestigious Oscar Pic Schedule Alert: “Nine” Moves to December

This is how me and my friends look when we’re just hanging out.

Variety reports that The Weinstein Company has moved the release of the musical “Nine” from November 25th to a NY/LA release on December 18th, followed by a nationwide opening on Christmas Day. The move was made to accommodate equally prestigious and awards hungry TWC film “The Road,” which now will take the November 25th spot.

James Cameron’s “Avatar” is the biggest film opening on the 18th, but with “Nine” only in two cities, it doesn’t really affect the Rob Marshall-directed musical much. Oh let’s be honest, even if the nationwide open was on the 18th, it wouldn’t matter. The people who are rushing off to see fantastic, alternate world film “Avatar” wouldn’t hesitate if a film adaptation of a Broadway musical was opening the same day, no matter how many sexy women are in the cast.

On the 25th, though, “Nine” will face off against “Sherlock Holmes,” and I can imagine there’d be crossover audiences between those movies. In the end, it won’t hurt either that much, I don’t think. And I’m sure “Nine” is out more for awards than box office; “Sherlock Holmes” probably hopes for some award notice but is definitely hoping for big money to justify the establishment of a franchise. I could try to see both. Nothing better than a double feature on Christmas Day.