Editorials > Razzies Announced

Source: Razzies Official Site

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 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! (which lived up — or down — to its title) and

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 IMDb’s Bottom 100 Worst Movies of All Time)
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 IMDb’s 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
5 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)