5 non-contenders that deserve Best Supporting Actress more than Freida Pinto

The BAFTAs have decided that their love for Slumdog Millionaire is more important than any longstanding credibility they once had and nominated Freida Pinto for Best Supporting Actress. This hearkens back to the days of the late 80s/early 90s whenn you had to be in one of 8 films to be nominated for anything (I love Holly Hunter, but The Firm? Joan Cusack for Working Girl?). The past few years have shown a loosening of the field allowing great performances from other movies to compete. Now, with ratings sagging, AMPAS might be tempted to allow Slumdog Millionaire the status of juggernaut. This would be a mistake.

In terms of her performance I would rank it somewhere around Liv Tyler's performance in The Incredible Hulk; okay, not remotely oscar worthy. I would like to offer five alternatives, beyond the obvious. The five current favorites, Rosmarie DeWitt, Debra Winger, Marisa Tomei, Vera Farmiga, Taraji P. Henson... we all know about them. But no one is bandying about these names. Granted some of them are silly, but all of them far outclass the beautiful but two dimensional Ms. Pinto.

#5 Cate Blanchett - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Before you kill me for even mentioning this film, may I ask you to think back on the challenges of the roll she had. Her accent is perfect, her physicality is memorable, and even in the high camp moments she can almost make you believe she can read minds. It's not her fault the CGI looked shitty. It's not her fault the plot was preposterous and not satisfying. This film actually did great business at the box office and would certainly add some viewers to the oscar telecast. What Cate did was actually quite excellent and far more difficult than anything Freida Pinto had to do.

#4 Gwyneth Paltrow - Iron Man

Or how about another very good performance in a very popular movie. Paltrow and Downey jr. had wonderful dialogue and chemistry and that dynamic was one of the most enjoyable things about a very enjoyable film. Sure the "reality" of the film is preposterous, but not that much more preposterous than Slumdog, and Paltrow had some more difficult moments, and different layers to play. I wouldn't nominate Paltrow personally, but she's leagues ahead of Pinto.

#3 Lina Leanderson - Let the Right One In

Now I'm starting to get serious. Leanderson wouldn't add viewers but it'd be a nice thing for fans of this excellent film to actually see it represented in some way (since the foreign film category is the worst joke in history) and it's pretty well deserved. For such a young actress Lina Leanderson really gets across the agony of this poor vampire who has suffered with her affliction for centuries. We see her inherent darkness, her tortured empathy, and her resignation to the horrific necessities she lives with. I'm surprised Leanderson hasn't received more buzz.

#2 Hiam Abass - The Visitor

With all the accolades heaped upon Jenkins, I'm surprised Abass's vital character has been left off the short list. Her grace, dignity, and humor are all on display and her scenes with Jenkins are all played at just the right tone. It'd be a great surprise nod and a well deserved one.

#1 Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar - Slumdog Millionaire

And if the academy is absolutley sold on a Slumdog Juggernaut, how about rewarding the actress that had the lone challenging scene for an actress in the entire film. She's not on the screen for long (neither is Pinto) but the scene involving the younger Latika with Jamal and his brother is very memorable and climactic. Lonkar's incarnation of Latika at least does something other than answer a cell phone.

So there it is 5 viable other options besides the myriad options already available to you. Don't let me down Academy!