Capo,
You mean "too early" in terms of a "time line" set by the academy or "too early" in the sense that many other films will follow and this may be forgoteen (so to speak?) and/or get more competition?
TIS
I think he means the latter, for UNITED 93 came out in April 2005, did great reviews...then got forgottten/swamped by other movies. Same with last year with the brilliant ZODIAC, which got zero noms*.
But to counter Capo's logic, which is traditional wisdom, may I point to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
It came out in February 1991, and about 13 months later, it won the Best Picture Oscar.
*=Which was a travesty, methinks.