Donald Clarkeon Hollywood calendar-hopping antics

There are few documents more blackly hilarious than the disingenuous emissions of panicked Hollywood publicists. Consider Paramount's attempts to put a brave face on its decision to delay the US release of The Soloist, Joe Wright's follow-up to Atonement, from November until next March. Until a few weeks ago, Oscar pundits had regarded the film - in which Jamie Foxx plays a homeless violin virtuoso - as one of the prime contenders for glory next February. "The economic crisis might have made November an awkward time to release a movie about homelessness," unnamed executives told the Los Angeles Times. Pardon? Is the studio suggesting that, between Christmas and Easter, a home will have been found for every American vagrant?

A more likely explanation for the rescheduling is that Paramount wishes to save money on one more costly Oscar campaign. Now that The Soloistis opening after Christmas, it fails to qualify for the 2008 awards and the studio has no need to place costly "For Your Consideration" advertisements in the trade papers. At any rate, the move does little to build confidence in Wright's picture.

Over the last few years, the dramatic rearrangement of movie releases has become a conspicuous trend. The latest Harry Potter epic was expected here in late November, but when Warners realised they were short a summer blockbuster they bumped the film to next July. Other films to have been pushed back include Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones(now due no earlier than September 2009), JJ Abrams's Star Trek(May 2009) and John Hillcoat's promising adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road("late" 2009).

Then there is the baffling saga of the elusive, ever out-of-reach Valkyrie. Starring Tom Cruise as Claus von Stauffenberg, the Nazi officer behind the July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler, Bryan Singer's film has been delayed more often than the German invasion of Britain. First it was due last August. Then it was moved to June. Suddenly waking up to Oscar prospects, the studio put a cross next to October, but, following some sniggering at stills depicting a slightly camp Cruise, Valkyriewas pushed back to 2009. But hang on a minute! Test screenings have been better than expected. Let's put it out in December. By the time you read this, the film will, no doubt, have found a fresh slot in some hitherto obscure corner of the calendar.

The reasons for these rearrangements are various. When a posh middle-brow film is pulled away from the Oscar penumbra, it usually indicates lack of confidence. But Paramount's nudging back of Star Trek- a film with great pre-release buzz - and Warners' messing around with Harry Potter, which would still be a smash if screened only at four in the morning, are surely to do with strategic financial planning. Some of the films above were genuinely delayed in post- production. And Valkyrie? If I live long enough to see the thing I'll let you know.