Hollywood's worst? Razzies 'honor' 'Madame Web,' Jerry Seinfeld and Francis Ford Coppola
This Sunday in Los Angeles, the world will watch as Hollywood stars glam up and hope for an Oscar, a symbol of the very best the entertainment world has to offer.
Until then, there are the Razzies, an ignoble accolade marking the very worst movies and acting performances of the year. And the top winner, announced Friday, is: "Madame Web," with three Razzies, for worst movie, worst screenplay and worst actress, for star Dakota Johnson.
Paste BN movie critic Brian Truitt could have told you so, writing almost exactly a year ago that the Spider-Man spinoff was "burdened by bad dialogue, negligible character development, a lackluster bad guy and assorted B-movie silliness."
Also on the hit list were comedian Jerry Seinfeld for his lead actor performance in "Unfrosted," his tongue-in-cheek history of Pop-Tarts, which he also directed and co-wrote with his "Seinfeld" collaborator Spike Feresten. The movie also nabbed the worst supporting actress Razzie for co-star Amy Schumer.
Rounding out the abysmal acting awards was Jon Voight, who garnered his worst supporting actor Razzie for a quartet of 2024 performances: "Reagan," "Shadow Land," "Strangers" and "Megalopolis."
Razzie winner Francis Ford Coppola razzes back in acceptance message
"Megalopolis," a sprawling futuristic obsession about power, greed and architecture that failed at the box office, brought its director and financier Francis Ford Coppola ‒ arguably one of the most celebrated Hollywood directors, thanks to movies such as "The Godfather" trilogy and "Apocalypse Now" ‒ his own Razzie for worst director.
Most Razzies winners tend to downplay or ignore their "awards," which are $4.97 trophies voted on by 1,217 movie buffs, film critics and journalists from 49 states and about two dozen foreign countries.
But not Coppola. Shortly after receiving the news, the director took to Instagram with a blistering acceptance message.
"I am thrilled to accept the Razzie award in so many important categories for @megalopolisfilm, and for the distinctive honor of being nominated as the worst director, worst screenplay, and worst picture at a time when so few have the courage to go against the prevailing trends of contemporary moviemaking!" Coppola wrote. "In this wreck of a world today, where ART is given scores as if it were professional wrestling, I chose to NOT follow the gutless rules laid down by an industry so terrified of risk that despite the enormous pool of young talent at its disposal, may not create pictures that will be relevant and alive 50 years from now."
Among other Razzies winners was "Joker: Folie a Deux," a reviled sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga as Batman's nemesis and his beloved. It was voted worst prequel, remake, rip-off or sequel, and the duo nabbed worst screen combo.
On an upbeat note, there's the annual Razzie Redeemer award given to a past winner who has rebounded from critical and commercial failure to become a respected artist. No, not Demi Moore, a favorite this year to take home her first Oscar for her performance in the horror thriller "The Substance."
Rather, the award went to Pamela Anderson, the onetime Tool Time girl, Playboy favorite and Tommy Lee playmate who wowed audiences last year with her star turn in "The Last Showgirl." You go, girl.