My sight-unseen enthusiasm for Maria Schrader‘s She Said (Universal, 11.18) was unfettered around three months ago. The trailer for the investigative journalism drama, which is basically the story of how N.Y Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey nailed Harvey Weinstein, seemed smart and sure-footed, and I figured that it had to at least rank as a respected cousin of Spotlight or perhaps even All The President’s Men.

But it didn’t appear at the big three festivals (Venice, Telluride, Toronto) and the buzz began to gradually simmer down. Now it’s only days from peeking out at the New York Film Festival. The first public showing happens on Thursday, 10.13.

Last week a guy I know passed along a friend’s reaction to a relatively recent research screening. “Intriguing and important, but somewhat formulaic in its story,” he said. “None of the performances stand out enough for traction in the awards race but apparently it’s a good ensemble piece, from what I’ve heard.”

On 9.27 THR‘s Scott Feinberg posted a list of likely Best Picture contenders, and placed She Said in seventh place, presumably based on a viewing. He put it behind the fifth-ranked Women Talking, the so-so Elvis and the sixth-ranked The Woman King. What does that tell you?

Reaction posted by World of Reel‘s Jordan Ruimy: “Better than a TV movie. Not sure about Best Picture, but Samantha Morton and Carey Mulligan are the MVPs. Very intelligently made and well-directed. They smartly show the effect of the abuse. Victims go back to the hotel rooms, reenact what happened in the bed and shower, but with their clothes on. It’s very Spotlight, maybe too much so. It also has a fantastic ending. We never get to see Weinstein’s face, only see his back and hear his voice.”

We’ll know soon enough.