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

Certain Women

In a short, but illustrious career, director Kelly Reichardt has done incredibly well with critics. Wither her new film Certain Women, she has her most successful film to date. Starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar nominees Michelle Williams and Laura Dern, Reichardt continues her portrayal of strong female characters with this film about three women in small town America whose lives intersect.

Her first film, River of Grass premiered in 1994, but she didn’t make her second until 2006 with Old Joy. It was after these two films, starring male leads, that Reichardt shifted gears towards female-driven dramas. Williams starred in her 2008 drama Wendy & Lucy taking home many accolades and becoming Reichardt’s first Oscar-capable drama. Ultimately, Williams missed the cut, but with awards from the Toronto and Online Film critics, it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Her 2010 film Meek’s Cutoff also failed to chart with Oscar, but it featured another strong Williams performance. Night Moves then arrived in 2013, but to considerably less fanfare. With the likes of Dern, Williams, and Stewart, who earned a lot of chatter last year for her performance in Clouds of Sils Maria, there is certain to be talk about any or all of the trio figuring into the Oscar race. The problem is that Reichardt has yet to break through to the Oscars. While it’s possible the film could pick up one or two acting nominations, wins are unlikely and the film doesn’t have a lot of mobility elsewhere.