| Some evening, if you are watching a movie and thinking “this is the worst movie ever”, be aware that there is an organization that annually recognizes the worst films and performances. The Golden Raspberry Awards for Failure in Cinematic Achievement, better known as the Razzies was founded in 1980 as a joke at an Oscar Awards viewing party. A few years later, the organization started holding its annual ceremony on the evening before the Oscars gala, This ensures coverage of their event by the worldwide media that descends on Los Angelas for the Oscars weekend. Nobody’s Perfect: In 1976, Faye Dunaway won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Network”. Five years later she won the Worst Actress Razzie for her portrayal as Joan Crawford in “Mommy Dearest”. Dunaway blames that movie for derailing her career. Al Pacino has excelled in many films but has won only one Oscar (1992’s “Scent of a Woman”). Two decades later Pacino won the 2012 Worst Supporting Actor Razzie for his role in Adam Sandler’s “Jack and Jill”. Although he was nominated eleven times, Lawrence Olivier’s only Oscar was for his performance in 1948’s “Hamlet”. In 1982 Olivier won the Worst Actor Razzie for his performance as General Douglas MacArthur in “Inchon”, which is considered to be the worst war movie ever made. In 2010, Sandra Bullock accepted a well-deserved Oscar for her performance in “The Blind Side”. That same weekend she accepted her Razzie in person for her performance in the odious “All About Steve”. She graciously accepted her Worst Actress Razzie and the Razzie for Worst Screen Couple (playing opposite Bradley Cooper). Kevin Kline won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his hilarious performance in 1988’s “A Fish Called Wanda”. In 2000, he was awarded the Worst Actor Razzie for his portrayal of Artemis Gordon in the atrocious “Wild Wild West”. Kline and co-star Will Smith won the Razzie for Worst Screen Couple. In 1998 Leonardo DiCaprio played twin brothers in “The Man in the Iron Mask”. The Razzies membership didn’t appreciate either of the twins and handed DiCaprio the Razzie for Worst Screen Couple. Leo finally won an Oscar for his performance in 2015’s “The Revenant.”. In 2002, Halle Berry made history as the first Black actress to win an Oscar (“Monster’s Ball”). Three years later, Berry made history by being the first actress to accept her Worst Actress Razzie in person (for the dreadful “Catwoman”). Berry delivered a tearful parody of her Oscars acceptance speech while clutching her Oscar and Razzie. 1990’s “Dances with Wolves” garnered Kevin Costner Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. Seven years later Costner received Razzies for “The Postman”, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director. He has seven well deserved nominations for Worst Actor. Sylvester Stallone is the King of the Razzies, He’s been nominated for Worst Actor fifteen times and for Worst Supporting Actor three times. Sly was also named Worst Actor of the Decade for his 1990s roles. That said, I love his current show, “Tulsa King”. After being nominated nine times, John Travolta’s finally won the Worst Actor Razzie for the 2001 bomb, “Battlefield Earth”. Travolta also won Worst Screen Couple receiving the award with “anyone sharing the screen with him”. The film has the lowest possible IMDB rating (2.5/10) and was awarded the Worst Picture of the Decade in 2010. Madonna’s fifteen Razzie nominations are only exceeded by Adam Sandler and Sylvester Stallone. However, nobody tops Madonna’s nine Razzie trophies. She also edged out Brooke Shields for Worst Actress of the Century. Redemption Ben Affleck received three Razzies for his early 2000s films, “Daredevil”, “Paycheck” and “Gigli”. In 2015, he became the first person to win a Razzie Redeemer Award for his excellent work in “Argo” and “Gone Girl”. In 1981, the Razzies’ first year, Shelley Duvall was nominated as worst actress for “The Shining”. Years later, it became known that Duvall had been subjected to constant mental abuse by the film’s director, Stanley Kubrick. In 2022, two years before Duvall’s passing, the Razzies commendably revoked her 1981 nomination. Have a great weekend. I’m going to see if “Battlefield Earth” is streaming somewhere. Thanks to everyone who has bought my book, “Get Smarter-Be Amazed”. If you haven’t purchased your copy yet, please visit www.tedcurtinstories.com for more information and links to online retailers. |
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