I was told that “Avatar: The Way of Water” won’t screen for press until December 6th in NYC. That’s just around nine days before Thursday previews begin for James Cameron’s 192-minute epic. The social media embargo will lift at 6PM ET on 12.06, the review embargo on 12.13 at 12PM ET.
This means that, unless any last-minute screenings are added, New York (NYFCC) and Los Angeles (LAFCA) film critics won’t get to see the movie before voting on their annual awards. Maybe 20th Century will set up a special screening for National Board of Review members ahead of their vote?
It’s not like ‘The Way of Water’ was ever going to be a critical darling, but you’d expect it to be seen in advance by critics. We all suspect 20th Century will be mounting an Oscar campaign for this film … unless reviews turn out to be terribly mediocre.
Meanwhile, you have “Babylon” having already been screened for press last week and it’s only coming out on December 23rd. Other contenders: “Emancipation” is supposedly eyeing a screening the week of its release (12.2.22). As for “A Man Called Otto,” it will be screened in Los Angeles on December 5th.