The delayed release of "Letters from Iwo Jima" has been bugging the bejesus out of me. Wasn't the whole point of doing a companion film to "Flags of Our Fathers" — one offering the Japanese point of view — so that moviegoers can get the unique perspective of two perspectives? Why separate them? "Flags" will fade a bit, maybe even a lot, from memory by the time "Letters" opens next February 9. Besides, if Clint Eastwood had permitted both to be released simultaneously that would create a great sense of special event, which could bolster "Flag's" Oscar chances.

A Paramount source says Clint didn't want both films out competing for Oscars at the same time, but, let's be honest. Regardless of how good it is, "Letters" is in Japanese — its Oscar hopes are slim, especially since it's being released so early in 2007. Who'll remember it a year later when the next Oscar ballots will be filled out?

But, hey, wait a minute: this filling-out-ballot biz and conceding "Letters'" meager Oscars hope may be the real reasons that it will be released in early 2007!

As currently scheduled, "Letters" will hit Los Angeles theaters just days after final Oscar ballots hit the mailboxes of academy members. Completed ballots aren't due back until Feb. 20. (Oscars are on Feb. 25.) In between these dates there will be gads of PR for Clint and rejuvenated interest in "Flags" as "Letters" hits theaters. Thus, this could be a truly brilliant release strategy, after all.

But it assumes that "Flags" will be nominated for best pic. That's likely, considering Clint's history with voters (his last two movies made the Oscar high five: "Million Dollar Baby" and "Mystic River") and the socko reviews it just got from Variety and Hollywood Reporter. But a few other critics nuked it. What if critical opinion is split just enough to plant "Flags" among several movies angling for the fourth and fifth best-pic slots? It might need the extra pizzazz of a dual "Flags"/ "Letters" release to push it in? Or am I over-analyzing this?