“Basic Instinct II” Gets 4 Razzies, “Little Man” Garners 3

This week-end was a big deal for devotees of the cinema. Sunday night was given over to a long-winded and tedious applause fest known as the “Oscars.” Saturday night, though, was the real deal at Hollywood's Ivar Theatre, with the 27th Annual Razzies awards, which recognize the very worst in film. Top award “winner” here was “Basic Instinct II,” which was almost rivaled by extremely not-funny “Little Man.”

According to its website, “The RAZZIES® were created in 1980 by lifelong cinemaniac and cynic John Wilson, author of both The Official Razzies® Movie Guide and Everything I Know I Learned at the Movies. 'Winners' were determined by mailing ballots to 757 Golden Raspberry Foundation members throughout 42 US states and more than a dozen foreign countries. Those few brave souls who choose to accept their RAZZIES® receive a gold-spray-painted, golf-ball-sized raspberry atop a mangled super 8 film reel, with an estimated street value of $4.97.”

“Basic Instinct II” was an unintentionally funny film which carried off the Razzie for the Worst Movie of the Year, Worst Screenplay, Worst Sequel or Prequel, and Worst Actress (Sharon Stone). Ms. Stone has featured in the Razzies frequently, and perhaps, she should find different work. To her credit, at a Davos conference some time ago, she managed to raise a few thousand dollars for mosquito nets to prevent malaria. She should consider becoming a UN goodwill ambassador full time.

The Wayans Brothers, part of the family that brought “In Living Color” to Fox TV in the 1990s, bombed their way to 3 Razzies: Worst Remake or Rip-Off, Worst Screen Couple, and Worst Actor. Oddly, the Worst Couple and the Worst Actor covered both Shawn and Marlon Wayans; the rules are opaque here. Nonetheless, any feature length film based on a Bugs Bunny short cartoon, “midget-thief-pretending-to-be-a-baby” as the Razzies described it, has to have some puffery in it. Keenan Ivory Wayans may want to consider disowning his obviously less talented brothers.

Rounding out the lousy films was “Lady in the Water,” an attempt at suspense or terror from M. Night Shyamalan. Mr. Shyamalan wasted the acting talents of Paul Giamatti while earning for himself Worst Director and Worst Supporting Actor (he put himself in his own picture -- and not a walk-on like Hitchcock used to do). Meanwhile, Carmen Elektra’s third time was the charm as she was named Worst Actress for both “Date Movie” and “Scary Movie 4.” A new category, Worst Excuse for Family Entertainment, went to “RV,” a film Robin Williams will likely try to forget ASAP.

Over at the Oscars, Forest Whitaker (who may be the one of America’s greatest acting talents, period) picked up Best Actor. That means, Ben Affleck has an Oscar while Peter O’Toole still does not. So much for credibility of the Academy.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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