Golden Raspberry Awards

"Golden Raspberry" redirects here. For the fruit, see Raspberry.
Golden Raspberry Award

The Golden Raspberry Award statuette.
Awarded for Worst in film
Country United States
Presented by Golden Raspberry Award Foundation
First awarded March 31, 1981
Official website www.Razzies.com

The Golden Raspberry Awards, often shortened to the Razzies or GRA, is an award ceremony in recognition of the worst in film. Co-Founded by American copywriter and publicist John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, the annual Razzie Awards ceremony in Los Angeles precedes the corresponding Academy Awards ceremony by one day. The term raspberry in the name is used in its irreverent sense, as in "blowing a raspberry". The awards themselves are in the form of a "golf ball-sized raspberry" which sits atop a Super 8 mm film reel, the whole of which is spray painted gold.

The first Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony was held on March 31, 1981, at John J. B. Wilson's living room alcove in Los Angeles to honor the worst in film of the 1980 film season. The 36th ceremony was held on February 27, 2016.

History

John J. B. Wilson at the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2009.

American copywriter and publicist John J. B. Wilson traditionally held potluck parties at his house in Los Angeles on the night of the Academy Awards.[1] In 1981, after the 53rd Academy Awards had completed for the evening, Wilson invited friends to give random award presentations in his living room.[1][2] Wilson decided to formalize the event, after watching a double feature of Can't Stop the Music and Xanadu.[3] He gave them ballots to vote on worst in film.[3] Wilson stood at a podium made of cardboard in a tacky tuxedo, with a foam ball attached to a broomstick as a fake microphone, and announced Can't Stop the Music as the first Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture.[3][4] The impromptu ceremony was a success and the following week a press release about his event released by Wilson was picked up by a few local newspapers, including a mention in the Los Angeles Daily News with the headline: "Take These Envelopes, Please".[1][2][4]

Approximately three dozen people came to the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards.[4] The 2nd Golden Raspberry Awards had double the attendance as the first and the 3rd awards ceremony had double this number.[4] By the 4th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony, CNN and two major wire services covered the event.[1] Wilson realized that by scheduling the Golden Raspberry Awards before the Academy Awards, the ceremony would get more press coverage: "We finally figured out you couldn't compete with the Oscars on Oscar night, but if you went the night before, when the press from all over the world are here and they are looking for something to do, it could well catch on," he said to BBC News.[1]

The term raspberry is used in its irreverent sense, as in "blowing a raspberry".[5] Wilson commented to the author of Blame It on the Dog: "When I registered the term with the Library of Congress in 1980, they asked me, 'Why raspberry? What's the significance of that?' But since then, razz has pretty much permeated the culture. We couldn't have done it without Hollywood's help."[5] Wilson is referred to as "Ye Olde Head Razzberry".[6]

Format

Paying members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation vote to determine the recipients.[7] For the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2009, award results were based on votes from approximately 650 journalists, cinema fans and professionals from the film industry.[7][8] Voters hailed from 45 states in the United States and 19 other countries.[9]

John J. B. Wilson at the 28th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2008.
Worst Supporting Actress at the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards.

The ceremony, typically held one day before the Academy Awards, is modeled after the latter but "deliberately low-end and tacky".[1]

Collecting in person

Most winners do not attend the ceremony to collect their awards.[10] Notable exceptions include Tom Green (Worst Actor/Worst Director), Halle Berry[10] [11]and Sandra Bullock (Worst Actress), Michael Ferris, Joe Eszterhas (Worst Screenplay), and Paul Verhoeven (Worst Director).

Contradicting awards

Two people won both the Razzies and Oscars the same weekend: Brian Helgeland in 1998 and Bullock in 2010, although both for different films. Neil Diamond was nominated for both a Golden Globe (Best Actor) and a Razzie (Worst Actor) for the same film, 1980's The Jazz Singer. Diamond won the Razzie, the inaugural Worst Actor Razzie Award. The Aerosmith song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", as part of the original soundtrack to the 1998 film Armageddon, was nominated for both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song, as was the LeAnn Rimes song "How Do I Live" from the 1997 film Con Air.

Categories

Current Awards

Retired

Special categories

Special categories have also been introduced for specific years. Such special awards include:

Year Category Winner Nominees
1996 Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million Twister—Michael Crichton & Anne-Marie Martin The Hunchback of Notre Dame—Tab Murphy, Irene Mecchi, Bob Tzudiker & Noni White
Independence Day—Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
Mission: Impossible—David Koepp and Robert Towne
A Time to Kill—Akiva Goldsman
1997 Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property Con Air Batman & Robin
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Turbulence
Volcano
1998 Worst Movie Trends of the Year 58-year-old leading men wooing 28-year-old leading ladies Trailers that give away the film's entire plot
Longer movies, shorter plots
THX Deafening Audio
Mega-zillion-dollar cross-promotional overkill: Armageddon, Godzilla, etc.
2002 Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie Jackass: The Movie Eight Crazy Nights
Crossroads
Scooby-Doo
XXX
2003 Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content) The Cat in the Hat 2 Fast 2 Furious
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
From Justin to Kelly
The Real Cancun
2005 Most Tiresome Tabloid Targets Tom Cruise, his baby, Katie Holmes, Oprah Winfrey's couch and the Eiffel Tower Tom Cruise and his anti-psychiatry rant
Paris Hilton and... "who EVER!"
Mr. and Mrs. Britney, their baby (Sean Preston Federline) and their camcorder
The Simpsons: Ashlee, Jessica and Nick
2006 Worst Excuse for Family Entertainment RV Deck the Halls
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
The Shaggy Dog
2007 Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie I Know Who Killed Me Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
Captivity
Hannibal Rising
Hostel: Part II
2010 Worst Eye-Gouging Misuse of 3D The Last Airbender[12][13] Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Clash of the Titans
The Nutcracker
Saw 3D

Anniversary Awards

Every decade-closing ceremony includes an award for the worst actors and movies of the decade—though the 2000 ceremony put the actors as worst of the 20th century instead. Special prizes for the 25th anniversary of the Razzies awards were also given out in 2005.

Period/Ceremony Category Winner Nominees
1980s (10th) Worst Actor Sylvester Stallone Christopher Atkins
Ryan O'Neal
Prince
John Travolta
Worst Actress Bo Derek Faye Dunaway
Madonna
Brooke Shields
Pia Zadora
Worst Picture of the Decade Mommie Dearest (1981) Bolero (1984)
Howard the Duck (1986)
The Lonely Lady (1983)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Worst New Star of the Decade Pia Zadora Christopher Atkins
Madonna
Prince
Diana Scarwid
1990s (20th) Worst Actor of the Century Sylvester Stallone Kevin Costner
Prince
William Shatner
Pauly Shore
Worst Actress of the Century Madonna Elizabeth Berkley
Bo Derek
Brooke Shields
Pia Zadora
Worst Picture of the Decade Showgirls (1995) An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998)
Hudson Hawk (1991)
The Postman (1997)
Striptease (1996)
Worst New Star of the Decade Pauly Shore Elizabeth Berkley
Ahmed Best
Sofia Coppola
Dennis Rodman
Of Our First 25 Years (25th) Worst Razzie Loser Arnold Schwarzenegger Kim Basinger
Angelina Jolie
Ryan O'Neal
Keanu Reeves
Worst Drama Battlefield Earth (2000) The Lonely Lady (1983)
Mommie Dearest (1981)
Showgirls (1995)
Swept Away (2002)
Worst Comedy Gigli (2003) The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
The Cat in the Hat (2003)
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
Leonard Part 6 (1987)
Worst Musical From Justin to Kelly (2003) Can't Stop the Music (1980)
Glitter (2001)
Rhinestone (1984)
Spice World (1998)
Xanadu (1980)
2000s (30th) Worst Actor of the Decade Eddie Murphy Ben Affleck
Mike Myers
Rob Schneider
John Travolta
Worst Actress of the Decade Paris Hilton Mariah Carey
Lindsay Lohan
Jennifer Lopez
Madonna
Worst Picture of the Decade Battlefield Earth (2000) Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
Gigli (2003)
I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
Swept Away (2002)

Other types of awards

Worst Career Achievement

This award has been given five times, to Ronald Reagan in 1981, to Linda Blair in 1983, to Irwin Allen in 1985, to "Bruce the Rubber Shark" from Jaws[14] in 1987, and to director Uwe Boll[15] in 2009 who received this for his achievement as "Germany's answer to Ed Wood".

Governor's Award

This is a special award given by Razzie Award Governor John J. B. Wilson to an individual whose achievements are not covered by the Razzies' other categories. It was awarded in 2003 to Travis Payne for "Distinguished Under-Achievement in Choreography" in the film From Justin to Kelly.[16]

Barry L. Bumstead Award

This award is given to a critical and financial failure that would've been nominated if it had received an eligible release. It was awarded in 2015 to United Passions.

Criticism

The Razzies have received criticism in recent years, including from news sources such as Indiewire[17] and The Daily Telegraph,[18] for several issues, including that members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation are not required to watch the nominated movies,[17] and that seemingly anyone can join the Golden Raspberry Foundation, so long as they pay at least $40,[17] which is different from the invitation-only Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[19] Critics take issue with the Razzies picking "easy targets" and mainstream films instead of those which are perceived as less popular but more deserving productions,[20] continuing to appeal to celebrities, seemingly for publicity and attention, over other, worthier films and performances.[17]

Sam Adams of Indiewire has said the Razzies are "like hecklers hurling insults at comedians or a concertgoer yelling out 'Whoo!' during a quiet song, they're not-so-secretly crying out to be noticed. The Razzies, properly enough, avoid pouncing on the little guy; they don't trash no-budget indies no one has seen for having bad lighting or terrible sound".[17] Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph has said "the Razzies' ongoing failure to train its sights on anything but the most obvious targets means it grows more tired and redundant by the year".[18] CraveOnline's William Bibbiani stated that the Razzies follow "a cheap shot of pranksterism", and "with only a handful of exceptions, only seen fit to nominate the most infamous movies of the year, and not necessarily the worst."[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lindrea, Victoria (February 25, 2007). "Blowing raspberries at Tinseltown". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  2. 1 2 Larsen, Peter (January 20, 2005). "The Morning Read – So bad, they're almost good – A love of movies lies behind the Razzies". The Orange County Register. p. 1.
  3. 1 2 3 Germain, David (Associated Press) (February 26, 2005). "25 Years of Razzing Hollywood's Stinkers". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel Company. p. 7D.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Marder, Jenny (February 26, 2005). "Razzin' The Dregs of Hollywood Dreck – Film: Cerritos' John Wilson Marks His Golden Raspberry Awards' 25th Year With A Guide To Cinematic Slumming". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. A1.
  5. 1 2 Dawson, Jim (2006). Blame it on the dog: a modern history of the fart. Ten Speed Press. pp. 48–50. ISBN 1-58008-751-5.
  6. ↑ Crouse, Richard (2005). Reel Winners: Movie Award Trivia. Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 103, 208. ISBN 1-55002-574-0.
  7. 1 2 Marrs, John (February 25, 2009). "'They have no excuse to be as bad as they are' – The Golden Raspberry awards aren't just a refreshing antidote to the Oscars, they can help sell films too. John Marrs talks to the Razzies' founder, John Wilson". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  8. ↑ Margulies, Lee (February 21, 2009). "Film Industry Razzes 'Love Guru,' Paris Hilton". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ↑ Telegraph Herald staff (February 22, 2009). "Hilton, Myers top Razzies". Telegraph Herald. p. A2.
  10. 1 2 Bushby, Helen (February 27, 2005). "Berry gets worst actress Razzie". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  11. ↑ Razzie Channel (2011-01-13), Halle Berry accepts her RAZZIE® Award, retrieved 2016-05-23
  12. ↑ Chris Tookey (February 21, 2011). "Over-priced, over-hyped – and they even make you feel ill. Are 3-D films the biggest rip-off in cinema history?". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  13. ↑ "M Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender wins Razzie Awards". BBC News. February 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  14. ↑ Razzies.com, visited 2007-04-30.
  15. ↑ John Wilson (January 21, 2009). "Razzies 2008 Nominees for Worst Career Achievement". Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  16. ↑ "Razzies.com - Home of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation". razzies.com.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Sam Adams (5 January 2015). "Why the Razzies Are the Worst Awards Ever". Criticwire.
  18. 1 2 "Why I hate the Razzies". Telegraph.co.uk. 1 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER". Oscars.org - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
  20. 1 2 "Which Easy Targets Did The Razzies Pick This Year? - CraveOnline". 13 January 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
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