Now in its 27th year (an unbelievable accomplishment in and of itself), the annual Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as the Razzies, also released its list of nominees the day before the Oscars. Of course, this is one group of nominees you’d be hopeful to stay clear of, if you consider yourself a well respected and hard working person in Hollywood.
While the Oscars annually salute the best in films, the Razzies shine a glaring spotlight on what they consider the dregs of the previous year in motion pictures.
As you’ll see by the following list, there’s certainly no mercy rule in operation here, as some of the movies were slapped with multiple nominations. Even certain actors got multiple nominations for what the Razzies saw as a real dubious distinction in bad acting.
By the way, the Razzies will be handed out at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 24 – one night before the Oscars telecast on ABC at The Kodak Theatre. I would expect just a few more stars to show up at that Feb. 25 awards show, but there have been appearances by notables at the Razzies – including Oscar-winner Halle Berry in 2005. (She was “honored” for her work in “Catwoman,” graciously accepting her award with good humor.)
Here’s this year’s lucky batch of victims, I mean, nominees. For more info, visit www.razzies.com
Worst Picture
“Basic Instinct 2”
“Bloodrayne”
“Lady In The Water”
“Little Man”
“The Wicker Man”
Anybody who has actually subjected themselves to watching all five of these films deserves some sort of a medal, or perhaps some serious therapy. I can proudly say I haven’t seen any of them. As I consider myself a movie critic, I should feel a bit guilty about that, but I don’t. I’m sure there will come a day when I might see one or two of them, but it won’t be “Little Man,” which looks just plain creepy.
Worst Actor
Tim Allen
“The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause,”
“The Shaggy Dog” and “Zoom”
Nicolas Cage
“The Wicker Man”
Larry The Cable Guy (Dan Whitney)
“Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector”
Rob Schneider
“The Benchwarmers” and “Little Man”
Marlon Wayans & Shawn Wayans
“Little Man”
Tim Allen had a hell of a year, starring in three stinkers. However, two of them actually did modest business at the box office, while “Zoom” did exactly that out of theatres. The least surprising nominee? Larry The Cable Guy. But at least he proved he can do good voiceover work as a tow truck in “Cars.”
Worst Actress
Hilary Duff & Haylie Duff
“Material Girls”
Lindsay Lohan
“Just My Luck”
Kristanna Loken
“Bloodrayne”
Jessica Simpson
“Employee Of The Month”
Sharon Stone
“Basic Instinct 2”
I have a feeling that Jessica Simpson is crafting out a career that might be built on Razzie nominations, provided she acts in at least one film a year. Meanwhile, Sharon Stone’s appearance here was almost a foregone conclusion, as “Basic Instinct 2” makes it into just about every category this year.
Worst Supporting Actor
Danny DeVito
“Deck The Halls”
Ben Kingsley
“Bloodrayne”
M. Night Shyamalan
“Lady In The Water”
Martin Short
“Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”
David Thewlis
“Basic Instinct 2” and “The Omen”
Didn’t Ben Kingsley win an Oscar for “Gandhi” back in the early 1980s? Between his appearance here in “Bloodrayne” and a couple of years ago in “Thunderbirds,” I’m thinking the Academy might want to consider taking the Oscar back.
Worst Supporting Actress
Kate Bosworth
“Superman Returns”
Kristin Chenoweth
“Deck The Halls,” “Pink Panther” and “RV”
Carmen Electra
“Date Movie” and “Scary Movie 4”
Jenny McCarthy
“John Tucker Must Die”
Michelle Rodriguez
“Bloodrayne”
It would seem a bit unfair, as she’s evidently got a stellar resume on Broadway, but Kristin Chenoweth's film career wouldn’t seem to be as well received, based on her getting a nomination for three films in this category. While she was not a strong point of the film, Kate Bosworth’s appearance here would seem a bit unnecessary, in my opinion.
Worst Screen Couple
Tim Allen & Martin Short
“Santa Clause 3”
Nicolas Cage & His Bear Suit
“The Wicker Man”
Hilary & Haylie Duff
“Material Girls”
Sharon Stone's Lopsided Breasts
“Basic Instinct 2”
Shawn Wayans & EITHER
Kerry Washington OR
Marlon Wayans
“Little Man”
Obviously, the chemistry between the cast of “Little Man” was not perceived to be very strong, while the category also takes a low (or is that high?) shot at Sharon Stone’s chest. As for the Nicolas Cage nomination, your guess is as good as mine.
Worst Remake or Rip-Off
“Little Man” (Rip-off of the 1954 Bugs Bunny cartoon "Baby Buggy Bunny")
“Pink Panther”
“Poseidon”
“The Shaggy Dog”
“The Wicker Man”
The Bugs Bunny cartoon resemblance was noticeable to me from the first time I heard about “Little Man.” Good to see somebody else calling them out on it. The remainder of the films were simply unnecessary remakes. However, I wouldn’t count out the likelihood of seeing more from “The Shaggy Dog” and “Pink Panther,” based on their box office performance.
Worst Prequel or Sequel
“Basic Instinct 2”
“Big Momma's House 2”
“Garfield 2: A Tail Of Two Kitties”
“Santa Clause 3”
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”
One can only hope these latest editions of movie franchises will also be the last. Makes you wonder where all the money that was sunk into these films could have gone instead.
Worst Director
Uwe Boll
“Bloodrayne”
Michael Caton-Jones
“Basic Instinct 2”
Ron Howard
“The Da Vinci Code”
M. Night Shyamalan
“Lady In The Water”
Keenan Ivory Wayans
“Little Man”
It seems a bit unfair that Ron Howard is singled out for his job on “The Da Vinci Code,” the only nomination the film received. But then again, the movie made over $700 million worldwide, so I doubt he cares too much. Good to see Uwe Boll here again, he of the constantly crappy movies based on video games.
Worst Screenplay
“Basic Instinct 2”
Screenplay by Leora Barish & Henry Bean
Based on Characters Created by Joe Eszterhas
“Bloodrayne”
Screenplay by Guinevere Turner, Based on the Video Game
“Lady In The Water”
Written by M. Night Shyamalan
“Little Man”
Written by Keenan Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans
“The Wicker Man”
Screenplay Adapted by Neil LaBute
from a Screenplay by Anthony Schaffer
Clearly, Neil LaBute and M. Night Shyamalan should be a bit embarrassed to be nominated here, as both have done standout work in the past and have the talent to do so again. Maybe this will be the motivation for them to do so.
Worst Excuse for Family Entertainment
“Deck The Halls”
“Garfield 2: A Tail Of Two Kitties”
“RV”
“Santa Clause 3”
“The Shaggy Dog”
In what is a new category this year, subjecting your kids to all of these films would clearly be determined to be child abuse in any court of law. If you haven’t done so, introduce them to the fine movies made by Pixar, or the classics produced by Disney. Or, better yet, read them a book.
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