They could've disguised the fact that it wasn't going to be in Oscar contention until buzz was already worked up to a fever pitch, but the Dark Knight shooting necessitating reshoots reeeeeally hurt it a lot.

People like seeing period shit like this if they think it's Oscar quality. But no one gives a shit about disposable period pieces. Especially in the dumping ground of January. Especially if they don't have actual stars (Gosling's only opened one film alongside Carell, and Stone was a non-factor since this flick clearly wasn't gonna attract any women to come).