Hollywood Hands out Oscars, Razzies

With the writers’ strike over, the glitterati of Hollywood celebrated themselves with a painfully long Academy Awards ceremony last night that made one long for the speed of the Golden Globes press conference. However, on Saturday, the Golden Raspberries were handed out for the very worst that Hollywood could produce. It was a balanced week-end.

Dispensing with the Oscars first, it was a bit of a surprise that no American won the main acting awards. Daniel Day-Lewis, a Brit, was given the best actor title for “There Will Be Blood;” Marion Cotillard, a Frenchwoman, won best actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose,” which was all the more surprising because the film was in French; Tilda Swinton, another Brit, was best supporting actress for “Michael Clayton;” and Spaniard Javier Bardem took home the best supporting actor award for “No Country for Old Men.”

The best film was “No Country for Old Men” and the best director award went to the Coen brothers who made it. One was a bit surprised that “Juno” didn’t fare better, but apparently, Hollywood was in a serious mood this year and an off-beat comedy like that didn’t really fit the tone. It did, however, garner the best original screenplay award.

At the Razzies, two films dominated, while “Daddy Day Camp” got the only award (Worst Director) not won by the two big flops. Lindsay Lohan’s vehicle “I Know Who Killed Me” set a record with 8 Razzies, topping 7 won by “Showgirls” and “Battlefield Earth.” The film took home the Razzie for Worst Screen Couple, Horror Movie, Screenplay, Director, Remake or Rip-Off, Actress (twice) and Picture. Ms. Lohan, playing two parts badly, tied herself apparently for worst actress.

Meanwhile, Eddie Murphy’s “Norbit” won three for Worst Actor (Mr. Murphy), Worst Supporting Actress (Mr. Murphy in drag) and Worst Supporting Actor (Mr. Murphy as Mr. Wong). Back in his “Saturday Night Live” days, Mr. Murphy said he wanted to become the Beatles of comedy. Of late, the only Beatle he remotely resembles is Pete Best, and the world still wonders where he is.

© Copyright 2008 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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