For a contingent of movie lovers there is a faction with a deep appreciation of bad films. Be they box office bombs, horrid attempts at movie-making, or any other type of misfire in theaters there is a subset of fans who appreciate these fiascos.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is popular for a reason.
Each year there is an attempt at recognizing bad films with The Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as The Razzies. Beginning in the early 1980s these were a fun catharsis against the uppity and self-serious Academy Awards. But then around the George Bush administration they decided that going political – and going with sophomoric humor – was the wise choice.
39th Razzie Nominations! https://t.co/cJSpnFoxZs via @YouTube
— The Razzie® Awards (@RazzieAwards) January 21, 2019
Since then organizers have felt the need to take this fun and unique version of Hollywood awards and turn them into an activist commentary outlet — in other words, just like the other awards shows.
This year was more of the same, with numerous nominations being wasted in order to make political digs, and otherwise ignore the desire to escape from politics our entertainment is usually sought out to provide.
Razzies get political, again… AKA please pay attention to us!!
— Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) January 21, 2019
This is accurate. It seems more often the nominaations are not based on what were truly bad cinematic offerings, but what picks would generate the best press releases. This year Dinesh D’souza’s “Death Of A Nation” and Michael Moore’s wholly ignored “Fahrenheit 11/9” gave the Razzies organizers the chance to get their political digs in.
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Donald Trump — who won the worst supporting actor Razzie for 1991’s 'Ghosts Can’t Do It' — was nominated for worst performance by an actor in a leading role for archival footage as himself in docs 'Death of a Nation' and 'Fahrenheit 11/9' https://t.co/y7JyFdFVvD
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 21, 2019
Look, that 1991 win was a solid choice — a horrid appearance in a classic bad movie. But this year he is selected for not only playing himself, he is BEING himself in a documentary. But the powers behind the Razzies could not resist injecting #WeResist commentary.
To go along, Melania Trump and Kellyanne Conway are chosen in the “Worst Supporting Actress” category for, again, merely appearing on screen as Melania and Kellyanne.
These are NOT bad acting performances and, worse still, it is robbing the chance of recognizing other legitimately bad performances. In total they have wasted SIX nominations that should be used on genuinely bad artistic representations.
The Razzies have been announced! They are just as mean-spirited and worthless as ever!
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) January 21, 2019
Well, he’s an actor, so that’s expected.
The Razzies aren't even trying to be credible anymore are they?
— Ryan Robotham (@RJRobotham) January 21, 2019
Do you realize how unbelievably stupid and petty this makes you look?
— Jeremy Fichaud (@FilmJunkie82) January 21, 2019
Nothing shows how lame and "playing it safe" the Razzies are more than finding an excuse to nominate Trump, over ruffling some actual feathers and nominating disliked awards darlings like Bohemian Rhapsody or Green Book https://t.co/42bD5R4eQc
— Alistair Ryder (@YesitsAlistair) January 21, 2019
Now that the #RazzieAwards have been announced, I can say with absolute certainty what my cable lineup will feature in heavy rotation later this year. Every time I turn on my TV, "Holmes and Watson" and "Gotti" will be playing, & every time they do, a little part of me will die. pic.twitter.com/JZtouD1eVJ
— Michael C. Kenneally (@TheWriterMCK) January 21, 2019
The Razzies burning hatred of Winchester and Happytime Murders surprises me. Not that I’ve seen either. But I sense misogyny!!!
— Seth Abramovitch (@SethAbramovitch) January 21, 2019
Heh -heh. Of course, not everyone is facetious about such things. After all, there just HAS to be a race component.
The #RazzieAwards *really* went out of their way to nominate black actors in otherwise forgettable performances and in ensembles with relatively few black performers. Did anyone really walk out of JURASSIC WORLD saying "Wow, Justice Smith really ruined that movie"? I think not…
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 21, 2019
I guess when you achieve diversity and begin nominating black actors then you are still being racist??
What if, and hear me out, the Razzies are … not funny? pic.twitter.com/Hyw84Uhjpj
— Christopher Rosen (@chrisjrosen) January 21, 2019
You make a great point Rosen, in that they do not make a great one. When they make these selections yet snub “Hurricane Heist”, or “Solo”, or “Tomb Raider”, or “Action Point”, or “Welcome To Marwen”, or…
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