Reese Witherspoon Finds Herself on the PCT in "Wild"

It's been somewhat of a rocky road for Reese Witherspoon ever since she won her Oscar for 2005's "Walk the Line". Though she's found box office success with films like "Four Christmases", she hasn't done anything that's lived up to the immense promise she showed in films like "Election" and "Legally Blonde". Not to mention that whole D.U.I. fiasco.

But if there's anything fallen actors/actresses have taught us in recent years, it's that comebacks are possible. Witherspoon smartly moved away from center stage and took supporting roles in the critically adored "Mud" and this year's much discussed "Inherent Vice", and worked behind the scenes as a producer to get "Gone Girl" made. All of this, led to the inception of Witherspoon's own personal project: the big screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild", the story of Strayed's 1,100-mile journey on the Pacific Coast Trail.

Reese Witherspoon & Benedict Cumberbatch: Serious Oscar Threats

About a month ago when "The Imitation Game"'s trailer debuted, there were some that thought that the film was one to watch on the Oscar circuit. A film backed by Harvey Weinstein featuring the internet's hero (and recent Emmy nominee) Benedict Cumberbatch about WWII (the Academy's favorite topic) is certainly something to watch out for. 

However, after watching the trailer, I felt like the film was very "been there done that", in the same way that I felt "The King's Speech" was, especially since this year we have film's like "Birdman" and "Interstellar" and even Disney's adaptation of dark musical "Into the Woods" on the horizon; in comparison, the film is reductive, it doesn't seem to be any different from the numerous amount of films that covered this subject matter before it. Besides, we have Angelina Jolie's WWII epic "Unbroken" coming out, which seems to be as every bit of inspirational and uplifting as The Imitation Game. 

According to many of those who caught the film at the Telluride Film Festival this past week, however, the film is a major player, and a real threat at winning some top awards.

Toronto Film Festival Lineup

TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival) has announced its official lineup this morning. Running from September 4th to the 14th, several films will have their official world premiere here, while some holdovers from Cannes will also appear to build upon the buzz they got (or didn't get) there.

TIFF is an even more important, and influential Oscar precursor than Cannes; last year's winner of the People's Choice Award "12 Years A Slave" won the Oscar for Best Picture, with almost all of the other recipients following suit, or winning other Oscars including: "Silver Linings Playbook", "The King's Speech", "Precious", "Slumdog Millionaire", Whale Rider" and "American Beauty" have all been recognized in some way by the Academy Awards.

Take a look at the full list below (I've also included trailers for the films if they're available by making the film title a link).

A Few Words on our Best Actress Contenders

At this point in the game, we have a rousing 17 contenders (that stand a good chance) at being nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. As we all know, however, there can only be 5, and even though we're going purely on buzz at this point, it's pretty easy (based on Oscar's own predictability) to narrow it down to at least 2 or 3 nominees.

There really aren't a whole lot of contenders (particularly in this category) from films that have premiered thus far to compete against the women who are waiting in the wings. Sure, there's Shailene Woodley from "The Fault in Our Stars", and while critics are banging the drum for her now, will they still be banging when "Big Eyes" premieres? Or when Meryl Streep and the rest of the "Into the Woods" women show up onscreen? It's hard to say.

But as I said before, there's at least 2 or 3 that you can (probably) safely bet on seeing next year at the Oscar telecast.

Reese Witherspoon gets Wild

Trailers upon trailers upon trailers.

In the midst of a comeback of sorts, Reese Witherspoon has a busy year ahead of her. Teaming up with "Dallas Buyers Club" director Jean-Marc Vallée backed by Oscar heavyweight Fox Searchlight, "Wild" will certainly be one of the films in the Academy Award conversation this year.

The film is based on a true story, adapted from the popular best selling memoir written by Cheryl Strayed.

This looks to be Witherspoon's meatiest role in years (since her Oscar win for 2005's "Walk the Line"), certainly more so than her role in "The Good Lie". The film looks beautifully shot, and with the hot momentum of Dallas Buyers Club (those 3 Oscar wins and a nomination for Best Picture are nothing to ignore), this film could be even more financially successful, and rake in more awards. Partnered with her supporting turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice", this should almost definitely land Witherspoon a nomination in Best Actress.

Take a look at the trailer below. Wild will be released December 5th.

Reese Witherspoon's Comeback?

I for one, used to be a fan of Reese Witherspoon. In her early years, Witherspoon delivered a string of great performances ("Election, Freeway), and her breakout work in "Legally Blonde" turned the film into a phenomenon (I for one believe it was work worthy of an Oscar nomination, but you know how the Academy is with comedy). After solidifying herself as one of Hollywood's most bankable leading ladies ("Sweet Home Alabama", "Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde") she took home the Oscar for Best Actress and a dozen other awards for her portrayal of country music singer June Carter-Cash in "Walk the Line". And then... nothing.

Since her Oscar win, Witherspoon's work has not only grown less enthusiastic, but her project choices have become less inspired. She had a small supporting role in last year's "Mud" alongside Matthew McConaughey, but it was McConaughey that won the raves, while Witherspoon was a forgotten element of the film.

Partnered with that embarrassing DUI arrest, it's safe to say that she's in need of a career resurgence/renaissance, which might just be this year.

Early Oscar Predictions

With this year's Cannes Film Festival finished, we have (un)officially began the 2014 Oscar season... which makes my brain hurt because it doesn't even seem like that long ago that I was watching Lupit Nyong'o and Jennifer Lawrence duke it out for Best Supporting Actress. But as it does every year, Oscar season seems to start just as it ends.