2008 RAZZIE® Worsts

http://razzies.com/

Celebrating 29 years of Dis-honoring Hollywood’s Worst

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!

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)

SOURCES: Internet Movie Database, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office MoJo

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.