We had one film release this past weekend with the potential for Oscar nominations.

Wild

The first full weekend after Thanksgiving weekend is typically a dumping grounds for films studios aren’t sure will be Oscar contenders, but they hedge their bets anyway. This year, that doesn’t seem to be the case as the only major contender this weekend, also seems to be one that is sure to produce a nomination.

Wild is the story of a woman’s solo hike across a vast wilderness as a way to recover from a recent series of negative events. Reese Witherspoon is the woman dominating the film’s screen time and Jean-Marc Vallée, who has so far managed to create two really terrific films and one pretty decent one. The film’s subject is one we’ve seen many times and in many incarnations, but critics have generally fallen on the side of admiration for the wall Vallée moves the film beyond is obvious paradigms.

Yet, it’s Witherspoon is getting the majority of praise. It’s the kind of solo performance that demands Oscar’s attention and should appeal greatly to voters who seem to be struggling to find five deserving women to fill out this year’s Best Actress slate.