Madonna, Britney lead Razzies LOS ANGELES (AP) — Voters for the Razzies, an annual spoof of the Academy Awards, have a message for Britney Spears and Madonna: Don't quit your day jobs as pop divas. Spears' teen buddy flick Crossroads had a leading eight Razzie nominations and Madonna's island-romance bomb Swept Away received seven, including worst picture and worst actress for both movies. Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones also received seven nominations, among them worst picture and director for George Lucas, creator of the sci-fi saga. The other worst-picture contenders are Eddie Murphy's sci-fi comedy The Adventures of Pluto Nash and Roberto Benigni's live-action version of Pinocchio. Nominees for the 23rd annual Razzies, organized by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, were to be announced Monday, a day before Oscar nominations. Razzie "winners" will be announced March 22, the eve of the Oscar ceremony. Madonna personally had four nominations: Worst actress for Swept Away, directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie (a nominee for worst director and worst screenplay); worst screen couple, paired with Adriano Giannini in Swept Away ; worst supporting actress for the James Bond adventure Die Another Day ; and worst song for the Die Another Day title tune, which she co-wrote. What was so bad about Swept Away, a remake of a 1975 Italian film about a rich snob stranded on an island with a handsome sailor? "What wasn't?" said Razzies founder John Wilson. "It's a really awful remake of a highly regarded movie. I think it's the most blatant example of the fact that Madonna simply cannot act. It's as though she decided she's going to be a movie star and will keep inflicting these movies on us till we cry uncle. But this one may finally end her film career." Madonna previously received four worst-actress Razzies for such movies as Shanghai Surprise and Who's That Girl? The Razzies also named her worst actress of the 20th century. Spears, whose pop-queen career arc has drawn comparisons to Madonna's, also could continue her predecessor's tradition of bad acting, Wilson said. "Britney Spears is a Madonna wannabe," Wilson said. "Madonna is on the outs, and Britney could be picking up the torch, or the spear, perhaps." Besides Madonna and Spears, worst-actress nominees are Angelina Jolie for Life or Something Like It ; Jennifer Lopez for Enough and Maid in Manhattan ; and Winona Ryder for Mr. Deeds. Benigni was nominated in the actor, director and screenplay categories for Pinocchio. Other worst-actor contenders are Giannini for Swept Away ; Eddie Murphy for Pluto Nash. I Spy and Showtime ; Steven Seagal for Half Past Dead ; and Adam Sandler for Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights and Mr. Deeds. The Razzies added a new category, most flatulent teen-targeted movie, meant to "dishonor the often moronic movies Hollywood is forever aiming at the acne-and-braces set." Nominees are Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights, Crossroads, Jackass: The Movie, Scooby-Doo and XXX.
I think Tom Green accepted his award for "Freddy Got Fingered" in person last year. I also believe he was the first to actually accept the award.
I feel bad for Guy Ritchie. Here's a guy who's trying to establish himself as a real director and he gets roped into doing a Madonna movie. Other than a sequel to Ishtar or Heaven's Gate, is there a surer path to career suicide? I even heard that at the premier of Swept Away, he told his wife that the movie was awful and walked out. Can't say I blame him. Madonna is a brilliant businesswoman, but she needs to accept her limitations.
This is incorrect. The first person to accept their Razzie award in person was the director of the ill-fated movie "Showgirls" in 1996. His name is Paul Verhoeven. Great point subtomic.
