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Paris’ NOTTIE, Myers’ GURU,
Shyamalan’s THE HAPPENING,
DISASTER MOVIE and Uwe Boll
Rank Among 2008 RAZZIE® Worsts
It wasn’t just the American economy that took a disastrous downturn
in 2008 — so did the quality of Hollywood movie-making. Of the
573 films
released last year a record 75 rated
forum discussions on the
official RAZZIE® Awards web site.
This plethora of putrid motion pictures
proved a double-edged sword — It meant Golden Raspberry Award voters had
plenty to choose from — but it also made their task of culling the crud down
to a mere five contenders each in nine categories berry complicated. What
they selected as nominees for this year's 29th Annual RAZZIE® Awards is
the subject of this press release. The eventual “winners” will be unveiled
in intentionally tacky ceremonies set for the now traditional Oscar® eve,
Saturday night February 21, 2009 at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Hollywood.
Among the contenders for the Worst Picture are several laugh-free comedies,
the year's most laughable vision of the apocalypse, a pair of puerile parodies,
a couple of big budget B.O. bombs, and a decidedly un-romantic “romantic comedy”
co-produced by Paris Hilton. The list includes the first ever dual Worst Picture
nominees, two films from the same two talent-free writer/directors, both featuring
essentially the same cast — those twin towers of pop culture babble, DISASTER MOVIE
(which lived up — or down — to its title) and MEET THE SPARTANS
(a “parody” of THE 300 which somehow managed to work references to Britney Spears into an ancient
Spartan “plot”). Other Worst Picture picks: The latest “mystery with a twist”
from that self-important twit (and multiple RAZZIE® “winner”) M. Night Shyamalan,
THE HAPPENING, an
eco-disaster tale whose “villain” drew more guffaws than gasps;
The robotic rom-com THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE
copping Hilton three of her four RAZZIE® nominations this year alone as the film’s producer and star; Bad Movie
Uber-Meister Uwe Boll’s video-game-based fiasco
IN THE NAME OF THE
KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE, which grossed under $5 million on a $60 million budget
and was also a factor in Boll being selected to receive the first Worst Career
Achievement RAZZIE® awarded since 1987. And last (and possibly least) the year’s
biggest box office bomb, Mike Myers as a platitude-spouting mystic in the decidedly
unloved LOVE GURU.
Also singled out for dis-honor: The year’s third-highest-grossing
(and most disappointing) movie, INDIANA
JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL,
as Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel, 2007 Triple Crown RAZZIE® “winner” Eddie Murphy,
back for more abuse in two categories for MEET DAVE;
Oscar® winner Al Pacino sporting his third RAZZIE® nomination for both 88 MINUTES
and RIGHTEOUS KILL, Pierce Brosnan singing(!)
in MAMMA, MIA! as Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Actor choice
Larry the Cable Guy, all five top-billed stars of
THE WOMEN
(jointly vying as Worst Actress)...and more!
Links to this year’s RAZZIE® contenders are in the left column of this page.
Nominees were determined by mailing ballots to 687 voters in 45 U.S. states and 19 foreign countries.
The RAZZIES® were created in 1980 as a logical antidote to Tinsel Town’s annual glut of
self-congratulatory awards by John Wilson,
author of THE
OFFICIAL RAZZIE® MOVIE GUIDE and
EVERYTHING
I KNOW I LEARNED AT THE MOVIES. The Barnsdall Theatre is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
STATS on RAZZIE® WORST PICTURE NOMINEES for 2008 |
Disaster Movie |
6 Nominations: Worst Picture, Supporting Actress (2x) Rip-Off, Director(s) and Screenplay |
Released | Aug. 29, 2008 by Lionsgate |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 98% Negative |
Box Office | $14,190,901 |
Budget | $20 million (estimated) |
(Recently Ranked #2 on IMDbs Bottom 100 Worst Movies of All Time) |
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The Happening |
4 Nominations: Worst Picture, Actor, Director and Screenplay |
Released | June 13, 2008 by 20th Century-Fox |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 81% Negative |
Box Office | $64,506,874 |
Budget | $48 million |
|
The Hottie And The Nottie |
5 Nominations: Worst Picture, Actress, Screen Couple, Director and Screenplay |
Released | Feb. 8, 2008 by Regency Releasing |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 95% Negative |
Box Office | $27,696 |
Budget | $2 million (estimated) |
(Recently Ranked #17 on IMDbs Bottom 100 Worst Movies of All Time) |
|
In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale |
5 Nominations: Worst Picture, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director and Screenplay
Released | Jan. 11, 2008 by Boll KG |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 96% Negative |
Box Office | $4,775,656 |
Budget | $60 million (estimated) |
|
The Love Guru |
7 Nominations: Worst Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor (2x) Director and Screenplay
Released | June 20, 2008 by Paramount |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 86% Negative |
Box Office | $32,200,122 |
Budget | $62 million |
|
Meet The Spartans |
5 Nominations: Worst Picture, Supporting Actress, Rip-Off, Director(s) and Screenplay
Released | Jan. 25, 2008 by 20th Century-Fox |
Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 98% Negative | |
Box Office | $38,233,676 |
Budget | $20 million (estimated) |
SOURCES: Internet Movie Database, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office MoJo |
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For more information on the awards’ history, or to arrange an interview with Wilson,
please visit the official RAZZIE® web site (www.razzies.com) or contact
HeadRAZZberry@razzies.com.
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